The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago of low lying island located in the Arabian Gulf of the eastern shore of Saudi Arabia. Frequently called the Pearl of the Arabian Gulf, Bahrain has a history of more than 5,000 years of civilisation, from the mists of time to a vibrant present under a stable and prosperous government. Bahrain is the site of immortal Dilmun, religious centre to Summerians, Babylonians and Assyrians, as dramatic excavations prove. Subsequent visitors include Greeks from the time of Alexander the Great, Portuguese, Omanis and the English. Marvellous old sites and buildings compete with modern office buildings and colourful traditional markets.The climate is hot in summer and mild in winter. From November to April is very pleasant, with temperatures from 15 to 24 degrees centigrade. Temperatures are coolest between December and March when northerly winds prevail. From July to September temperatures average 36 degrees centigrade with high humidity.
Population
650604 (2001 est.)
Area
711.9 sq.km
Ethnicity/ Race
Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
Major Languages
Arabic (official), English, Farsi and Urdu
Religion
Islam 85%, other faiths including Hinduism, Parseeism, Judaism, Buddisim and Christianity.
Capital City
Al Manamah
Major Cities
Al Muharraq
Currency
Bahraini Dinar(BD) = 1000 fils = $ 2.666 (approx.)
Bahrain’s Al-Khamis Mosque: One Of Islam’s Oldest Relics
www.bahraintourism.com The twin minarets of the Al-Khamis ancient mosque are easily identifiable along Salman Road.
It's considered to beone of the oldest relics of Islam in the region, and the foundation are believed to have been laid as early as 692AD. An inscription found on the site, however, suggests a foundation date sometimes during the 11th Century.
It has since been rebuilt twice in both 14th & 15th centuries, when the minarets were constructed. The mosque has been partially restored recently.
The first dwellings on the site are believed to have been constructed around 2800 BC, and have subsequently been overlaid by numerous fortified settlements.
The last was built in the early 16th century to defend Portugal's recent acquisition of the islands-for this reason, it is also known locally as the Portugueese Fort. Numerous excavations have uncovered a variety of relics from the forts past.
