The Saudi Arabian region of AlUla plays host to "Hegra After Dark," a four-week event that gives visitors the opportunity to explore some of the region's heritage sites and monuments. This includes Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was once part of the ancient Nabatean civilization. At night, the site is lit with 3,000 candles, putting visitors at awe by its splendor. Visitors will be greeted by people donning traditional clothing before going on the tour, and served traditional drinks made with local ingredients.
However, the mere sight of Hegra is just one part of the tour as visitors will also experience an interactive play about the Nabatean Queen Shaklith. "Queen Shaklith Historical Re-enactment Show" takes attendees on a journey to the time of the warrior queen and her battles, her civilization, and how the land prospered as migrants from across the region were lured to the oasis. The thirty-minute production is complemented with sound effects, treating attendees to the full sight and sound of the Nabatean civilization.
In addition, the tour will conclude with stargazing at Al-Farid Palace as visitors will get to learn about the importance of Astrology and Cosmology in the Nabatean civilization. In fact, AlUla is one of the best regions in the Kingdom for stargazing, so anyone partaking at the event will surely be left stunned by the night sky.
"Hegra After Dark" was launched by UNESCO tourism chiefs, and proposed by the Royal Commission for AlUla. In fact, the commission's executive director, Andrew Hall, carried out a research on AlUla's heritage sites during the COVID-19 pandemic and concluded that tourists loved going on tour in the evening. "COVID-19 has affected us in the past year. We have learned a lot about the sites over that time, and also learned that people like to visit places at night," he told Arab News.
Visitors can book for the event at https://tickets.experiencealula.com/en/experiences/hegra-after-dark-experience
