Duncan MacDonald
Jakarta 16 June 2013
Arrived in Makkah 4:00pm. Very hilly. Much construction. No motor bikes.
(I saw 3 during the entire trip.) A bit cooler, only 39o C.
Makkah is located 70 km (43 m) inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley 277 m (909 ft) above sea level. Its resident population in 2012 was approx. 2 million, although visitors more than triple this number every year during Haj period held in the twelfth Muslim lunar month of Dhu al-Hijjah. It is the birthplace of Muhammad. The Saudi government adopted Makkah as the official spelling in the 1980s.
Today, more than 15 million Muslims visit Makkah annually, including two million during the few days of the Haj. As a result, Makkah has become one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse cities in the world, despite the fact that non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city.
Click on enlarge under the photo to see a larger image.
