Al Khamis Mosque – Bahrain

The Al Khamis Mosque in Khamis is one of the most sacred sites in Bahrain. There are several mosques in the country, but this is one of the most visited.

Location and How to Get to This Specific Site

The mosque can be found in Khamis. Khamis is situated between Isa town and Salmaniya. This is a mostly residential area. You will see the towers clearly when you pass by Shaikh Salman Road.

You can get into the country via Bahrain International Airport. Bus services are widely available too. There are also rental cars across the country.

What to See There

Its most conspicuous features are the twin towers rising high against the clear blue skies. The antiquity of the towers becomes quickly evident. Even so, they are still quite an imposing

presence. Around the tower are the arches seen in many modern mosques. As one of the oldest structures in the country, one cannot help but be awed by its presence.

History

The Al Khamis Mosque is one of the oldest mosques not just in Bahrain, but in all of Islam. Its foundation was set up around 692 AD. This occurred during the reign of Caliph Umar II. However, there are some inscriptions stating the foundation was set up around the 11th century.

Historical records show that the mosque was renovated numerous times. The most important renovations took place in the 14th and 15th centuries. It was sometime during these periods that the minarets were built. Periodically, the mosque has also undergone restoration.

Cost

Officially, taxi fares begin at ($2.65) BD 1.000. An extra 0.150 Fils (0.40¢) is added per km. Some taxi drivers though, just ignore them. If the taxi meter is “broken”, you should negotiate with the driver for the price.

Other Info

There are many other popular attractions in Bahrain. The Qala’at al-Bahrain (Bahrain Fort) is situated just to the north shore. It is only ten minutes away from the Manama. There is no entrance fee.

Next to it is a museum. It contains relics from the Dilmun era. Most of them were found near the fort. There is no admission fee. You can visit the place from 8 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon.

In spite of its age, the Al Khamis Mosque continues to be one of Bahrain’s top tourist draws. Its ancient status is also the reason why it draws in religious devotees.