Tourists throng to the Saudi Arabian city of Najran for bird’s eye views of the valley

JEDDAH: The Raum mountain, with an ancient fortress perched on top, is the latest in a series of major attractions drawing tourists to Najran, a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the border with Yemen.
The 1,000-meter high geographical jewel provides a bird’s eye view of the city and houses a castle decorated with distinctive shapes and patterns to reflect the history of the region, its civilization and ancient architecture.
Below the castle are newly-constructed reservoirs to stock up water during the rainy season.
The fortress, which is also an archaeological site, is surrounded by a large external wall built of square stones and adorned with shielding balconies. It has five rooms, a roof made of palm wood and a winding staircase.
Mount Raum is located to the south of the Najran valley facing the Abu Hamdan mountain — the highest mountain in the region — and runs parallel to the Wadi Najran watercourse.
It holds strategic and historical significance attracting tourists and explorers looking to document the area overlooking the heritage villages of Al-Hudhun, Al Qabil, and Djerba.