The stone facades
Arches and raised patterns.
Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Rod Waddington — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ljuba brank — CC BY-SA 3.0 · LBM1948 — CC BY-SA 4.0
Thula is a mountain stone town north-west of Sanaa, known for its decorated stone houses and the fortress on a great rock above it. Its old town keeps paved lanes and stone gates, and it ranks among the finest traditional towns in the mountains of Yemen. Visitors usually come on a day trip from the capital, together with nearby Kawkaban. We found few strong sources on the details of its past, but it has long been known as a fortified town. Histories record that Imam al-Mutahhar held out in Thula against the Ottomans in the 16th century. Its stone was laid with great precision, course upon course, and arches and carved bands around the windows show the skill of its builders. You enter through an arched stone gate into shaded paved lanes, and see tall facades with small arches and patterns in raised stone. The town has an old water cistern that mirrors the houses around it. For a wide view, climb the long path towards the fortress, which looks over the town and the surrounding plains. It is about 41 km in a straight line from Old Sanaa and about 9 km from Kawkaban. Wear sturdy shoes, as the climb to the fortress is long, and ask before photographing people, as these are lived-in homes. 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.
Arches and raised patterns.
Mirroring the houses.
Views over town and plains.
North-west of Sanaa, Amran Governorate, Yemen
The path is long and steep in parts, so wear sturdy shoes and bring water.
Yes, Kawkaban is about 9 km away in a straight line.