Kaaba

The Kaaba is the most impressive and revered tourist destination in Saudi Arabia. It is also known as the House of Allah since Muslims regard it as the first Qibla.

Because the Kaaba is home to a black stone that Muslims believe was once white but turned black following the sins of thousands of pilgrims who have visited it over the years, Muslims from all over the world travel there to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. You can see that as pilgrims arrive in Mecca, they gather in the courtyard of the Masjid al-Haram around the Kaaba.

They then proceed to go around the Kaaba in a circle, imitating the throng, to kiss and caress the Black Stone, which is set in the Kaaba's eastern corner and is known as al-Hajar al-Aswad in Urdu. You will also learn that the mountains, which were once next to the Kaaba, were destroyed to make room for Makkah's residents when the city was inhabited during the time of the Prophet.

Best Things to Do: 

When you reach Mecca, gather around the Kaaba in the courtyard of the Masjid al-Haram.

Follow the crowd as they round the Kaaba in an attempt to touch and kiss the Black Stone, known as al-Hajar al-Aswad in Urdu, which is set in the Kaaba's eastern corner.

Discover the different religious sites and attractions in and around the Kaaba, including the largest mosque in the world and the holiest site in Mecca.

Learn about the charming traditional homes in the old city district, the King Faisal historical-cultural complex, the beautiful Sabkah clock tower, the Al- Najm Library, the farmlands, and the Ibrahim and Al- Hussein mosques.

Interesting Facts Before Visiting: 

• There used to be an entrance and an exit in the old Kaaba. It also had a window on one side for a large amount of time. There is now only one door and no window in the Kaaba.

• One can't picture the Kaaba being any other color because one is so used to seeing it coated with the distinctive black Kiswah with gold striping. However, this custom appears to have begun during the Abbasid era (whose home color was black), as the Kaaba was previously decorated with a variety of colors, including red, green, and even white.

• The upper walls of the Kaaba are now covered in green fabric, while the inside is lined with marble. Plaques that each commemorate the restoration or reconstruction of the House of Allah by the ruling authority of the time have been fixed on the walls.