Overview:

Qasr Kharana is a desert castle located near Azraq, in Jordan. The castle was built by the Umayyad caliphs sometime between the 7th and 8th centuries, possibly as a military outpost on the edge of what was then the Muslim empire. The castle is notable for its unique architecture, with six nearly identical sides that are connected by a long, central hall. The castle is still intact and is a popular tourist destination. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Jordan
Prominent Features:

1. Qasr Kharana is an eighth-century desert castle located in the eastern Jordanian desert, 80 km east of Amman. 2. The castle is square-shaped with four towers towards each corner, and is built from yellow-brown sandstone, giving the impression of a small fortress. 3. It has two stories, with a central court yard and chambers that lead to hallways, providing storage and reception area. 4. The walls also feature Greek inscriptions, indicating the religious and political environment throughout history. 5. Inside, visitors can explore an Islamic-style prayer chamber, a residential area, reception halls, and an old kitchen used to serve meals for guests. 6. The castle is surrounded by lush gardens and open desert and is a popular destination for tourists and interested locals alike. This national monument of Jordan portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

Qasr Kharana (also known as the desert castle of Kharana) is a large fortified structure located in the Eastern Desert of modern-day Jordan. Dating back to the late 7th century, this Unesco World Heritage Site is one of the most impressive desert castles erected during the Umayyad period and is considered to be among the best-preserved of its kind in the world. Built under the reign of the Umayyad Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik (724-743 AD), the Qasr Kharana was probably intended as a strongpoint and rest stop for traveling caravans. Its strategic location — approximately 75km from major trading channel in northeastern Jordan — also made it an ideal trading station. Aside from its importance as a commercial hub, the castle was also an important center of Islamic culture and science. Entrance to the complex reveals a large reception hall, along with a number of other small rooms, where scholars and traders would have gathered to discuss, debate, and teach. One of the most notable features of the Qasr Kharana is its enormous stone façade, decorated from top to bottom with elaborate arabesque designs and carved inscriptions depicting various animals, plants, of plants. The interior of the castle was likely divided into living quarters and a central courtyard, where traders could congregate during the day. Beyond the main entryway lies a smaller courtyard, perhaps intended as a prayer hall, surrounded by a number of secondary and tertiary chambers. Throughout the following centuries, the site served as a rest stop for international travelers and merchants and became an important hub for the transmission of Islamic culture. In recent years, the site has become a major tourist attraction. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1985 and is regularly opened to the public. Today, visitors can explore some of the many ruins and gain a glimpse into a bygone era. You must visit one of these historical places in Jordan on your Jordan tour

Interesting facts:

1. Qasr Kharana is one of the best preserved desert castles from the Umayyad period in the Middle East. 2. It is made up of a complex of buildings surrounded by a fortified wall. 3. It stands around 75 meters long and 45 meters wide, with four towers and three gates. 4. It was built as a military fortress by the Umayyads and was likely used as a waystation for travelers along the Hajj pilgrimage route. 5. Inside the fortress complex are many small and large rooms, with each room likely having a different purpose such as guard rooms, storerooms, and lodging quarters. 6. The walls and floor of the castle are decorated with intricate mosaics, which are believed to have been inspired by Sassanid patterns from the Persian Empire. 7. The décor of the castle also includes geometric patterns, religious motifs, and Arabic calligraphy. 8. Qasr Kharana is located close to the site of the ancient city of al-Rabiyah, one of the largest cities in the Roman province of Arabia. Visit one of the famous monuments of Jordan with your friends and family.