Discover Al-Budayyi: Coast and Garden Path

In Al-Budayyi, two specific landmarks come together: the coast of Budaiya and a walking path in Budaiya Botanical Garden. They offer different points of reference when choosing an area—here, the measurements of a coastline; there, the length of a path. Those who want to learn about Bahrain not only through its coastal landscape but also through its archaeological remains can also consider the broader destination of Al-Muhafazah Ash-Shamaliyah.

Coast and Walking Path in Al-Budayyi

The coast of Budaiya covers approximately 25,000 square metres and is 450 metres long. In 2014, there were ten sunshades, two rest areas in the sea and 30 concrete chairs along the coast. In 2014, there were also 29 lighting poles with 48 solar-powered lights along the coast. The area, length and facilities provide specific points of reference for assessing the coast. As these figures are from 2014, check whether the facilities are still in this condition before planning a visit.

The walking path in Budaiya Botanical Garden is 1,560 metres long. This length provides a specific measure for a walk; how much time you allow for it depends on your pace. The coastline and garden path thus offer two different points of reference for your planning, without implying that there is a route between them.

Culture in the Broader Destination of Al-Muhafazah Ash-Shamaliyah

The Northern Governorate lies on the northwestern side of Bahrain’s main island and is notable for containing a large share of the country’s antiquities. These include Ain Umm al-Sujur, Barbar Temple, the Madinat Hamad Burial Mound Fields, Saar Settlement, Jannusan Hills, the A´Ali Burial Mounds, the Saar Burial Mounds and Saar Temple. These archaeological remains shape the cultural perspective on Al-Muhafazah Ash-Shamaliyah as a broader destination.

The Diraz temple complex preserves the southwestern remains of an extensive Dilmun settlement covering approximately 700 square metres. The temple was probably built in the early 2nd millennium BCE. Its cautious dating and approximate area are part of its historical picture. The Barbar Temples are another example: they consist of three successive temples, were built in five construction phases and date from the 2nd and 3rd millennia BCE.

Burial grounds also reveal different aspects of this history. The A´Ali West Burial Mound Field comprises 723 burial mounds and preserves the arrangement of mounds on the edge of a burial ground. Six distinctive burial mounds with outer ring walls are considered evidence of chieftains’ burials. The Madinat Hamad 1 Burial Mounds Field, also called Buri Burial Mound Field, preserves 754 burial mounds dating from 2050 to 1700 BCE. The A´Ali East Burial Mound Field is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Dilmun Burial Mounds.”

Further remains add to this picture, spanning more than a single period. The Shakhura Tylos Necropolis is protected by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and includes 15 visible Tylos burial mounds. Burial stelae and other grave goods found there are kept or displayed at the Bahrain National Museum. The northern burial complex at Al-Hajjar contains rare rock-cut tombs that were used from the Early Dilmun period through the Hellenistic and Parthian periods.

The Saar Heritage Park area includes an Early Dilmun city, a southern and a northern burial complex, a Late Dilmun temple and individual burial mounds. A joint presentation of this area has been proposed; check access separately before visiting. In Janabiya, Block 575, there is also an environmental education park with eco-friendly garden furniture. It is intended for various population and visitor groups, including people with special needs.

The landscape also bears traces of history: Ain Umm al-Sujur was once one of Bahrain’s most productive artesian springs; today, the spring is dry. Together with the temples, settlement remains and burial grounds, it offers insight into the different forms of heritage in Al-Muhafazah Ash-Shamaliyah. This allows you to distinguish clearly between what specifically characterises Al-Budayyi itself—the coast and garden path—and the archaeological themes associated with the broader destination.

For the broader travel overview: Al-Muhafazah Ash-Shamaliyah.