.

Ghardaya- A view of the Town Centre

2.Ghardaya- A Fascinating view of Melika Ksar
3.Ghardaya- The Monument in the Town Centre
4.Ghardaya- A view of Beni-Izguen Ksar
5.Ghardaya- Zelfana’s County (Daira) Headquarters
6.Ghardaya- Zelfana’s Town Centre
7.Ghardaya- Sunset over Beni-Izguen Ksar
8.Ghardaya- The new housing units at Beni-Izguen
9.Ghardaya- A new architectural style at the Beni-Izguen new Housing u
10.Ghardaya- A night view of a traditional well at Newly-Built Beni-Izguen
 Baladiya
11.Ghardaya- The City town hall or

11.Ghardaya- The City town hall or

Baladiya
12.Ghardaya- The Writer (standing
second from right) & His Algiers visiting
team As Guests to the Notable Ibadite
Kechar Family in Bounoura Ksar
 IN THE NAME OF GOD THE COMPASSIONATE THE
MERCIFUL
*Subject: CITY TOURISM.
*Historic Cities of Algeria.
*3. GHARDAYA
The ancient city of Ghardaia or Ghardaya is a town and Wilaya
(province) located in the north of the Sahara, a 600 km distance south of
Algiers, its area is 860.105 km2, the Wilaya counts 09 Dairates (Counties)
and 13 Baladiyates (Town councils), the climate in this region is dry and
Saharan with big differences in temperatures between the day and night
as well as between summer and winter.
The population of this city exceeds largely 110.000 Inhabitants
(latest figures) with a density of nearly 3.60 per km2, half of the population
lives in the area of Oued Mzab which is the home of the Ibadi Muslim sect
in Algeria. Ghardaia is truly a sight to see as the entire city is mostly made
up of original medieval architecture which has been preserved remarkably
well. The Mzab valley wherein Ghardaia lies is part of an official World
Heritage Site.
 The city is actually a cluster of five settlements which were
founded between 1012 and 1048 AD on the valley of the Oued Mzab:
Ghardaïa, Melika, Beni Isguen, Bounoura and El-Ateuf, those five
settlements are mainly home to the Ibadi conservative Muslim sect and
which are called here in Algeria “the Mozabites”, a sect which broke from
mainstream Islam some1390 years ago during the Caliphate of Imam Ali
Ibn Abi Taleb (RA).
Furthermore, in an admiration sight, the conception of the five
highest hills of the Mzab valley is that each hill top is crowned by a lone
towering minaret and the buildings seem to span out from them in
narrow concentric circles.The majority of the houses on the sides of
these hills are two-stories high and each has its own courtyard, terraces
and yards.
The streets and houses seemed to be carved into the hillside in a
way that blends them into the landscape, while whitewashed houses
stand out against the blue sky and the reddish brown desert soil.
Ghardaia is a perfect example of how homes can be built without
defacing the beauty of nature.
 The nomad tribe of Bani Wassin mainly Beni Mzab settled in the region in
the early period of Islam up to the 11th century , their main activity was
animal breeding: camels, sheep and goats , but with the increasing number
of this Tribe they started to build up fortified villages or “Ksours”
And it is said that these Ksours were designed to be built on top of hills to
avoid floods and any external threats and attacks while houses were set to
a genius urban system with main streets and other lanes that are narrow,
tortuous with roofed passages.
It would be worth noting that the main Ksours of the Mzab valley had
known their early construction as early as the 11th AD century and are
raised up as wonders of this historic City:
*El Atteuf “Tajnint” 1011
*Bounoura “At- Bounour” 1064
*Ghardaia “Tagherdait” 1083
*Beni Izguen “At Izjen” 1320
*Melika “At Mlickhet” 1355
*Guerrara 1630
*Berriane 1690.
* The terms in “inverted commas “are in Zenati Berber Dialect.
 The traditional dwellings of this ancient city is to be noticed by its
simple characteristics and high standard scrutiny in its architectural
design , they are made up two floors where rarely you found over this
two-floor storey .there is an open space in the ceiling through which
the house is kept aired and lit through sunlight.
The cultural life of this city has known across the centuries a
genuine blooming, as many of the Scholars from both the main two
Islamic schools of thought (Maliki & Ibadi) that co-exist together have
emerged while leaving a rich legacy and common heritage in terms
of Manuscripts and books that can be found in different library across
the city also traditional crafts are well known in this city as excellent
skills in rug , leather-products , sculpting out of wood and copper as
well as embroidery on textile are the main attraction of tourists.
The economic life has also known and is still having a flourishing
era and trading is well developed, the Ksours of the Mzab and the
ones of Metlili and El Menia have become one of the most important
trading centre and departure points in the north of the Sahara and a
linking point between the northern towns and the African countries. .
 At a distance of 60km south east of Ghardaia stands a very
fascinating thermal spa in the Daira of Zelfana where water of 45° rich
in sodium which is carefully used to cure illnesses such as nerves,
respiratory-problems, rheumatism and pruritus and is the destination
of many people from all over the country, the spa site is situated
opposite a Mosque within a stone’s throw away of a breath-taking
view of a palmeraie.

Ghardaia is a must stop station for every visitor as it really deserves

a longer visit in view of the richness of its ever lasting common
heritage between the two largest Maliki and Ibadite communities that
are living and co-existing together in such harmony and self respect
that is the envy of many communities in the world..
*‫سيد محمد بوكريطة الحسني –كاتب مستقل‬
*SYED MOHAMED BOKRETA AL HASSANI
FREELANCE-WRITER
E-MAILS:
mbokreta@maktoob.com
mohbokreta@yahoo.com