Bahrain Disney Travel Agents Near Me

Overview

Introduction

With its pleasant mix of Arab culture and Western conveniences, Bahrain has long been one of the most accessible countries in the Persian Gulf region. Travelers can enjoy Bahrain's traditional attractions—such as sailing a dhow or bargaining in a souk (marketplace)—and then relax at one of its comfortable, modern hotels.

What Bahrain lacks is a spectacular attraction: It doesn't have majestic ruins, it's not a place to experience the Arabian desert (Oman is a better choice for that), and it doesn't have the cosmopolitan flair of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Still, we think Bahrain is a good choice for first-timers who want to get to know the Gulf region.

Geography

Bahrain consists of 33 islands, including Bahrain (the name of the main island as well as the nation), Muharraq, Umm Nasan, Sitrah, An Nabi Salih and the Hawar Islands.

The country is flat (the highest point is only 445 ft/135 m above sea level), and though it receives very little rainfall, it can be very humid.

History

Bahrain, an ancient island nation in the Persian Gulf, was settled relatively early because it had what surrounding areas lacked: fresh water and soil fit for cultivation. (Its old name, Dilmun, means "Land of Life" or "Sacred Land.")

Some even claim Bahrain was the biblical Garden of Eden. Apart from a lone tree in the dry, southern part of the main island, there's scant evidence to support this claim. But as early as 2000 BC, Bahrain was an important trade center, fueled by an abundance of pearls in the waters offshore. The pearls attracted Babylonians, Assyrians and Greeks, all of whom left their mark on the country. In fact, pearls remained Bahrain's best-known commodity for thousands of years, until the introduction of Japanese cultured pearls in the 1960s. The country survived the collapse of its pearl industry because oil had been found in southern Bahrain in the 1930s, providing a new—and lucrative—source of revenue.

In 1971, the British, who had ruled Bahrain for more than 100 years, finally granted the country its independence. Bahrain toyed with the possibility of becoming a part of the fledgling United Arab Emirates, but then (along with Qatar), decided to remain independent.

For most of its history as an independent nation, Bahrain was a monarchy governed by the Al Khalifa family. The ruling emirs were Sunni Muslims, even though the majority of the population is Shiite. By the 1990s, this religious rift had spawned a bombing campaign that killed dozens of people, and there was widespread disapproval of the monarchy. When Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa succeeded his father as emir in 1999, he began making plans to turn Bahrain into a constitutional monarchy. By 2002, a parliament was in place and membership was open to all Bahrainis—including women.

Bahrain was one of the first Arab Gulf states to discover oil, was the first with a refinery and will be, experts predict, the first to run out. This is one of the reasons Bahrain has developed a more diversified economy than many other Gulf countries—banking, aluminum, fertilizer and shipbuilding all play a role in the economy.

The nation's nightlife is starting to catch up to its booming economy. Although it was previously confined to expat drinking holes, there are now sleek modern bars on offer. Salsa dancing has made a big impression on Bahrain's youth and is the dance of choice in the clubs.

Snapshot

Bahrain's chief attractions are beaches, souks, Middle Eastern culture, camels and ancient history.

Bahrain will appeal to seasoned travelers who are interested in the region and its history, but who also require modern conveniences.

Potpourri

Bahrain was the center of international attention when it became the adopted home of Michael Jackson. The King of Pop has invested a reported US$1.5 million in real estate on the Amwaj network of reclaimed islands.

Bahrainis have an uneasy relationship with the Saudis, their closest neighbors. Some Saudis look on Bahrain as a spot for a guilt-free weekend getaway, and on Wednesday nights (the start of the weekend in Bahrain), the causeway from Saudi is packed with visitors eager to indulge in activities that would be frowned upon in their home country.

The pearl trade might seem like a romantic way to have made a living, but, in fact, it was terrible: Divers remained at sea for months on end, and were often burdened by huge debts to boat owners, making them little more than indentured slaves.

During the height of the pearling trade, the shells from local oysters went to England, France and Germany to make mother-of-pearl buttons. And in the 1930s, U.S. socialite Barbara Hutton paid US$75,000 for a Bahraini pearl.

F'jeri is the beautiful rhythmic music of pearl divers and sailors.

Dugongs, relatives of the manatee, can be found in Bahrain's shallow waters.

The Hawar Islands are a breeding ground for endangered falcons and the Socotra cormorant. In December and January, tens of thousands of birds nest on the islands in an amazing natural display. (There is a long-standing border dispute between Bahrain and Qatar over ownership of the islands.)

The odd funnels on top of some old buildings are wind towers. They are a form of air-conditioning—in use before electricity—designed to catch the slightest breeze and scoop it inside.

The original people of Bahrain (the Dilmun) lived, on average, 40 years and suffered horribly from tooth decay, thanks to a steady diet of sweet dates. Date palms still play an important role in Bahrain: They are the country's biggest agricultural export. Throughout the country you can find rows of date palms lining spring-fed irrigation channels.

Bahrain claims the highest literacy rate in the Arab world. Attendance at primary schools is nearly 100%.

Overview

Introduction

Bahrain is the largest and most heavily populated of the nation's islands. Use the capital city, Manama, as a base for exploration: Two days should be enough to see the attractions around the capital.

Just outside town is the Suq al Khamis mosque, the oldest on the island (built in AD 1058). From there, drive west to see the Qalaat al Bahrain, a complex of archaeological excavations that date back to 2800 BC, when the island was settled by the Dilmun people. There's not much to see, but you'll find an ancient bit of city wall, a 400-year-old Portuguese fort, an 11th-century Arab fort (of which mere traces remain) and some Assyrian ruins. A little farther on is Barbar Temple, probably dedicated to Enki (the god of springs). More than 3,000 years old, the temple has been restored and is open to visitors.

From Qalaat al Bahrain, head to the village of Sar and follow the road around to A'ali, which has pottery workshops. It also has important grave mounds: Throughout Bahrain's northern region you'll see Dilmun grave mounds dating from 2800-1800 BC. The ones near A'ali are the Royal Mounds—some are thought to be the graves of the rulers' concubines. Objects excavated from the Royal Mounds are on display at the National Museum in Muharraq.

Head south from A'ali into the central and southern desert regions to see Ar Riffa (a restored fort with great views of the surrounding valley), Jabal ad Dukhan (also called Jebel Dukhan, it's the highest point in the country at 445 ft/135 m), the Oil Museum (including the country's first well) and the Al Areen Wildlife Park (stocked with such native Gulf species as oryx). Southeast of Jabal ad Dukhan is the Tree of Life, fed by a spring and source of a legend that Bahrain is the original Garden of Eden. (Unfortunately, the tree is surrounded by litter and graffiti-covered walls.) There's a horse-racing track about 5 mi/8 km south of Manama where Arabian horses carry riders in traditional robes and headdresses. After the horse races are the camel races and, sometimes, falconry displays. Return to Manama via the peninsula of Sitrah—there's a nice view of the capital from the causeway.