Al Hoson, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia

By Mohammed MirzaAl BAHA – PENINSULA TIMES - They’re tall, they’re historic and they’re one of the most significant collections of freestanding treasures of Saudi Arabia They’re Al Hoson of Al-Baha ( forts in English ) , centuries-old towers that dot the mountainous plains of the Al-Baha province. Over the years Al Hoson have gradually emerged as a symbol for the region. They are known as ” Al Qasabas” in some of Asir Province villages.
The rambling villages of Al-Baha are generally unremarkable until you come across a Hoson. Rising up from the small villages like the proverbial sore thumbs, these century old towers are reminders of significantly more dangerous times for the villagers. Today over a thousand towers survive. Dramatically silhouetted against the sky, these towers have become one of the region’s biggest attractions.Al Hoson literally means a citadel or the town center.Surprisingly these were in fact neither a citadel nor a town center, it is widely believed that they were used as watchtowers, to protect villages, roads and plantations from invading forces. The watchtowers were supposedly built for joint defense among villages. They were mostly built at the entrance of the villages, on the hill or beside wells outside the village and raised an alarm in case of emergency. However there is an opposing view to that, as some historians argue that it served as a granary.Perhaps it is a combination of the two views, it may have served both purposes of a watchtower and a granary. Evidences of this can be seen in the size of the outlets on top, which are ideal to let ample air come in to prevent the grains from rotting, while at the same time being perfect for a lookout.Al Hoson  were normally constructed using flake stones and slates. It may come as a surprise to some that even without the use of mortar, they have been able to survive for centuries. Retaining a harmonious relationship with the surrounding landscape, they’re ¬strong as stone yet as delicate as lace. Al Hoson testify to the architectural achievement of local building traditions that started in response to local banditry and tribalism.The importance of Al Hoson  is evident in the elements that express their purpose; the architecture and size of the towers is habituated to the local surroundings. This conveys their significance of fully representing their contiguous villages of small houses and farmland.Despite the province’s gorgeous landscape and unique architecture mainly in the form of “Al Hoson”, Al-Baha sees relatively few visitors each year compared with its southern counterpart, the province of Asir.Al-Baha region is the smallest yet one of the most beautiful of Saudi Arabia’s provinces, located in the Southwestern part of the Kingdom. Its geographical location made it an active link between the Holy City of Makkah and Yemen, which in turn influenced the culture and architectural style of the province. In fact the design is widely believed to be influenced from similar watchtowers in Yemen. These splendid structures mostly have a circular layout, similar to their Yemeni counterpart.Moreover freestanding towers in Saudi Arabia are not only limited to Al-Baha, they also exist in the Asir province. Not only that, archaeologists have found traces of similar towers in the Rub Al-Khali desert. However what distinguishes the towers at Al-Baha is not only due to their vast number but also for their exceptional architectural style. The newly opened museum opened in Al-Baha offers deeper insights into the architectural and cultural significance of Al Hoson.Steeped in rich archaeological history, the heritage has now slipped into oblivion. These towers are jilted, some lean at precarious angles while others have fallen and crumbled under the weight of natural forces over a long period of time. It may be a bit daunting to see that despite many of these towers being in a depilating condition, no large conservation efforts have been made. It would, though, be a shame if the wonderful views were to ever disappear.Despite Al Hoson languishing in a state of neglect, they still manage to offer a rare and tranquil travel experience that doubles as a history lesson on unique Al-Baha architecture. The attractive scenery of the agricultural landscape adjoining the momentous towers adds to the great blend of colors of nature and history all in one place.This is a copy of my article that featured on Peninsula Times, this is the link to the original source http://www.peninsulatimes.org/2013/12/28/hoson-al-baha-publish/