This is the Tower of Raghaba. It may not look like much at first glance, but upon closer inspection one realizes that it took a feat of engineering to build. Problem is, in the tiny village of Raghaba many years ago, no one was studying engineering! It is said that it was built with experience and intuition.
This is the view from the front. You can see the narrow doorway, and if you look closely you will see a stairway leading up on the right. The tower is not hollow. It has a narrow stairway leading all the way to the very top! Since you can see how narrow the entire tower is to begin with, and how it tapers upward, can you imagine how narrow that stairway gets near the top? Look at the small windows. They let a very tiny amount of light into the tower so that one can just see the steps as they climb.The tower is very tall. I am not great at estimating height, but I am 5'4" and I did not have to duck to enter the doorway, so looking at how many sections there are, and the fact that the doorway is already quite a way up from ground level, I am "guestimating" 100' tall at least.
These are the steps leading up just to get to the doorway. Once at the doorway, I hesitated, but I was really excited to give it a try and see how high I could climb. I entered, I climbed about 30 steps, and to my dismay I started feeling dizzy and my heart was beating wildly. I have never had a fear of heights, so I wondered if it was claustrophobia getting to me. I enjoyed the moment I spent inside, and then sadly turned and went back down the stairs.About a week later, I was still having problems with dizzyness and heart palpitations. A visit to the Dr. and a quick blood test revealed that I was suffering from anemia, very low blood pressure, and hypoglycemia to boot! Aha! There was a medical reason I was feeling dizzy in the tower! Therfore, with proper nutrition and medication, I can build my strength up and give the tower of Raghaba another go!
Oh, Tower of Raghaba....... I will be back to visit you again!
These pictures are great! Hope you are keeping up with your vitamens and "Kebdah" ;)
ReplyDeleteTake care, and most importantly have fun!!
Love you :)
very very very sad the tower is no more, does anyone have info, why it collapsed? if aNYONE WANTS PICS FROM INSIDE -I WILL UPLOAD TO FLICKR. I ALSO NEVER HAS CLAUSTROPHOBIA... OPS CAPS LOCK.. but did once inside.. very narrow at top. i have been there last year - its now flat.. even more than your other pic... by the way did you see the mosque which is a stones throw on the other side of the mud village, it absolutely fantastic - clearly been renevated properly - not wrecked like some of the other renovations i have seen in KSA . I take great pics - will upload too sometime... one day god willing.
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