Mahdi's Tomb

About this place

The Mahdi's Tomb is the burial place of Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahdi in Omdurman, on the west bank of the Nile opposite Khartoum. With its tall silver dome it is one of the city's main landmarks, and it stands next to the Khalifa House Museum. Muhammad Ahmad led a revolt against Turco-Egyptian rule in Sudan in the late 19th century, and the Mahdist state was founded in 1885 after the siege of Khartoum. He died soon after and was buried in Omdurman, and the city grew around his tomb. The dome was badly damaged after the Battle of Omdurman in 1898, then rebuilt in 1947 under the direction of his son, Abd al-Rahman al-Mahdi. From outside you see a square building with yellow walls and arched windows, crowned by a large pointed silver dome with four small domes at the corners. A white wall and palm trees surround it, and the dome shines under Omdurman's blue sky. It is in central Omdurman, about 17 km from central Khartoum in a straight line. It has religious standing, so keep quiet and dress modestly. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Sudan, and access may not be possible, so check official guidance before making any plans.