Dar Al-Hajar ... The seven-story stone palace in Wadi Dhahr, Yemen

The Stone Palace, or as it is sometimes referred to as Dar al-Hajar or the Stone House, is a unique building located atop a large rock in Wadi Zahr, near the Yemeni capital Sana'a. This stone palace, which served as a summer residence for the Zaidi imam, Yahya Muhammad Hamid al-Din, is one of the greatest examples of traditional Yemeni architecture and architects disagree on the date of its construction, some saying it dates back hundreds of years and others say it began construction in the nineteenth century.

The stone palace looks like a carved from the mountain

If you look at it from afar, it seems as if the stone palace came out of the mountain that carries itself, and it seems to be hundreds of years old, although it was built in the modern era, specifically sometime in the thirties of the nineteenth century AD. No source is clear whether newly built or simply added to an earlier structure that existed here, the stone palace has everything a single leader needs.

The historical importance of the Stone Palace

Dar Al-Hajar Palace was the summer residence of former Yemeni King Yahya Muhammad Hamid al-Din. It was built in the twenties of the last century on top of a pre-existing stone structure believed to date back to the nineteenth century. The palace remained owned by the Yemeni royal family until 1962 and is now a museum and tourist attraction.

Location of the Stone Palace in Yemen

Located about nine miles from the capital Sana'a in Wadi al-Dhahr, which seems to be from another world, Dar al-Hajar dates back to the twenties of the last century, and was built as a summer residence for the Islamic spiritual leader and King Yahya Muhammad Hamid al-Din. But it was erected on top of a structure built on the rock column in 1786 by the Islamic scholar Imam Mansur Ali bin Mahdi Abbas.

Design of the Stone Palace

Inside the Stone Palace there are many guest rooms, kitchens, storage areas and quiet courtyards. It is definitely a pleasure for the eye to look at from the outside and inside, the stone palace is designed to be a fortified fortress that withstands attack and withstands long periods. It is built like a war castle, with firing positions to defend the place from attackers and its own water supply from the depths of the rock," meaning it could have "easily endured the siege".

The Stone Palace has a number of facilities such as appointment rooms, separate water cooling spaces in traditional earthen jars, guest rooms, Turkish bath, fountains and much more. There is a large garden at the entrance to the residence with a very old tree that is considered about 7 centuries old.

The Stone Palace in the Modern Era

Dar al-Hajar, owned by the government today, serves as an enticing museum that attracts people from all over the world who want to get as close as possible to Yemen's traditional architecture, while learning more about the modern history of Yemeni leaders, again at a time when the country had no king or president, but an Islamic spiritual leader leading the country. Now it is a museum, where visitors can wander the rooms and explore the maze of stairs. Unfortunately, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against travel to Yemen. But this does not prevent us from admiring its treasures from afar. Overall, a true masterpiece of architectural marvel that will surely excite the imagination within visitors who can gaze at the oasis in which this charming stone palace is located.