It was a very pleasant morning there in Ash Shafa on 17-Feb-20. The sky was clear and we could not see any cloud so we decided not to visit Jabal Dakka Peak because we love the peak when it’s covered with clouds instead we headed to Al Muhammadiyah Viewpoint which is opposite to Jabal Dakka.
Al Muhammediyah viewpoint is another beautiful camp site in Ash Shafa. Matal Al Muhammediyah is surrounded by amazing rocks which are naturally placed so beautifully that the visitor can’t live without saying “SubhanAllah”. There were many tracks to the valley but all of them were protected with fences and I don’t have any idea for that. May be there are some private properties or gardens for which they have applied those fences. Somehow, we found a way for which we had to move a few meters off road on the mountain which took us to the south east side of the valley. No one was there at that time in the morning except some wild dogs so we postponed our decision to go deep into the valley now but InshaAllah will try later.
From Matal Al Muhammediyah we headed to explore Al Masad Dam and amazing Wrd Al Sahfa.
I had to park my car on the roadside and needed to hike few meters to have a complete view of Al Masad dam as the views from the road was not clear. However, locals call it dam; it doesn’t look like a dam instead is a natural water reservoir which stores rainwater which is then used to irrigate the surrounding areas specially the rose gardens. Water level was a bit low when I visited the place just because it did not rain for some time across Saudi.
From Al Masad dam we went to Wrd al Shafa which is very close to it. These are many rose gardens in this part of Al Shafa but unfortunately, we were there at that time when roses have already been plucked from the plants and farmers were preparing for another season.
Wrd al Shafa, which I was thinking a Rose Product Store only, is a Rose Product Factory with Factory outlet beside it. I came here too early that neither the factory nor outlet are opened but when I talked to a Pakistani worker here he allowed me to visit a Dam and Wrd Al Shafa Rose gardens at the back of the factory. However, we were allowed to visit the valley and gardens; the care taker already informed us that there would be no roses in the garden because they have already been harvested to be processed in the factory and new roses would grow in 2 months period.
Surrounded by the typically Rocky Mountains of Ash Shafa, t’s one of the biggest and very beautiful dams I have seen in Ash Shafa so far. There were many white lily flower plants which were increasing the beauty of dam and at a distance looked like floating bunch of beautiful flowers.
Dam water was making a small waterfall which was hidden in the grass and natural vegetation in the area. Rose garden was also there deep into the valley and we had to hike for around 300 to 400 meters for the garden.
The gardens owned by Wrd Al Shafa was incredibly big and beautiful but as that Pakistani guy told us it was without roses that time.
Stairs were available at the back of Wrd Al Shafa to facilitate visitors who want to see the gardens without going into the valley but we are not of that kind. We are adventure lovers so obviously we did not use those stairs instead walked up to the dam again and then go to the factory. I’ll take you to the factory to describe how they are producing rose products locally and to the outlet to show their product range in my next blog. Stay connected and enjoy this complete video of the trip.
SAUDI DESTINATIONS 