🚗 The Rush to the Start
I decided to join the planned excursion at the very last moment. My colleague and frequent travel partner, Dr. Ijas, volunteered to drive, and we were happily joined by another coworker, Pramod. We started our journey at exactly 2:00 PM, admittedly knowing very little about our final destination other than that it was a rumored green oasis area located far outside the bustling city of Jeddah.
ISHABIL TRIP AT A GLANCE
Because of our late decision, we arrived at the designated starting point 45 minutes late, only to find that the other vehicles in the convoy had already departed. We immediately set off, rapidly following the group's shared live location on our GPS. We soon realized we were driving on a rural road I had traveled exactly once before when returning from a previous trip to Usfan. The long drive was incredibly scenic, offering beautiful, rustic views of wandering camel herds, small agricultural farms, and picturesque, rocky hills.
Our wide road eventually narrowed down into a tight, two-way track, winding dangerously through steep hills with sudden climbs and sharp bends. It was then that we finally spotted the name Madrakah boldly written on a distant hillside. We carefully passed through the bustling Madrakah Market area and finally reached the designated waiting spot, having traveled a total of about 140 kilometers from Jeddah. Over ten cars and a large, excited crowd were already waiting patiently for us.
⛲ Dhee Ayn: The Hidden Spring of Madrakah
Once absolutely everyone had safely arrived, the entire convoy proceeded together in single file. We slowly took a small, unpaved service road, driving carefully past dense date palm groves until we finally reached a large, open parking area where we securely parked our cars.
A very short, pleasant walk led us to a steep set of stone steps (which surprisingly included a convenient wheelchair ramp) descending deep into a hidden date palm oasis. At the very bottom, we happily found a beautifully maintained, cool area featuring a small, historic well and a tiny, crystal-clear stream flowing gently from it.
Walking further on, the dense landscape suddenly opened up into a spectacular, rectangular open space safely bordered by a thick date plantation on one side and a large, deep pool and canal with a stunning, rugged mountain backdrop on the other.
We eagerly walked right into the cool waters of the canal. The incredible sight was deeply reminiscent of my home in Kerala: featuring lush green grass, abundant flowing water, and even tiny, hopping frogs.
💡 Ishabil Fact: The Spring of Madrakah
The small, historic well we saw is deeply believed to be the exact one dug by a loyal companion of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) upon his direct command, miraculously causing the water spring to suddenly burst forth. This specific, blessed water was the very source that originally enabled agricultural cultivation in this arid area!
As absolutely everyone comfortably settled down on the ground with spread carpets and delicious snacks, the event organizers officially addressed the group. Mustafa Mash, who proudly led the event, expertly explained the deep historical and cultural significance of the location.
Furthermore, he proudly mentioned that Madrakah holds the highly progressive distinction of having the very first municipality in modern Saudi Arabia where women were officially granted the right to vote, and where a highly capable woman actively became its official administrative head.
New group members happily introduced themselves, and the massive group, proudly including many young families, posed for a grand, memorable group photo. The already happy atmosphere was significantly lightened by a highly rousing, rhythmic performance of traditional Mappila songs (Muttupattu) by some of the members.
🚶 An Adventurous Walk Through the Palm Groves
The highly anticipated next activity was a scenic, guided walk deeply through the dense date palm groves. The short journey involved physically crossing small, flowing streams by carefully balancing and stepping on fallen date palm trunks laid across them—a highly fun, slightly precarious, and adventurous trek!
We eventually emerged at another beautiful, open section of the large canal we had seen earlier. The sheer, unexpected abundance of thick green grass, vibrant greenery, massive boulders, and flowing, clear water entirely transported us to another world. A few highly adventurous members of our group even bravely climbed all the way to the very top of the nearby rocky hill to get a better view.
As the hot sun slowly began to set and the bright daylight rapidly faded, we walked happily back through the darkening grove to our original starting point.
🌙 A Highly Memorable Farewell
Upon completely returning to the parking area, hot, sweet tea and delicious snacks were already prepared and ready. We thoroughly enjoyed the final quiet moments together, happily sharing our personal experiences and leaving with a rich collection of fresh, beautiful memories.
⭐ Ishabil Tips: Exploring Madrakah
If you are planning to visit the Madrakah oasis, try to organize a convoy with friends or a travel group like Sanchari. The roads can be tricky to navigate alone, and having a group makes the long drive much safer and far more enjoyable! Always remember to pack out your trash to keep this historical oasis pristine.
The long return journey driving in the pitch dark felt incredibly long, but we were completely filled with the deep, satisfying joy of the day. We safely arrived back at our accommodation in Jeddah around 9:00 PM, highly thankful for the incredible chance to discover this highly unique, historic green escape located right outside the incredibly dry, urban landscape of Jeddah.
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