The houses
On the cliff edge.
Rod Waddington — CC BY-SA 4.0 · yeowatzup — CC BY 2.0 · LBM1948 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · LBM1948 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · yeowatzup — CC BY 2.0
Al-Hajjarah is a mountain village in the Manakhah district of the Haraz Mountains west of Sanaa, built on the edge of a cliff. It is famous for its towering stone houses, which look like part of the rock itself and stand side by side on the edge of the drop. The village was a market town on the road between Sanaa and Hodeidah, and today it is a base for trekkers in the Haraz Mountains. The Sulayhids founded its citadel in the 12th century, and it became an important fortification in Ottoman times for its high position. The village is also known for growing pepper. You approach through green farming terraces stepping down the mountainsides, and see the many-storeyed stone houses, their windows trimmed with white plaster, standing above the cliff. You walk its narrow lanes between towers and gateways, with views of deep valleys and distant villages on the mountaintops. Manakhah is about 5 km away in a straight line, and Sanaa about 62 km. These are lived-in homes, so dress modestly and ask before taking photos. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to the whole of Yemen and tells anyone there to leave, so check official guidance before making any plans.
On the cliff edge.
On the slopes.
Between the towers.
Manakhah District, Haraz Mountains, Sanaa Governorate, Yemen
Yes, it is a known base for Haraz trails.
About 62 km in a straight line, on a mountain road.