For billions of Muslims leaving the map, Mecca & Madina are more than 2 points. Regarded as the spiritual center of Islam, they draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year. Therefore the localities on these sites gives context for the pathway which prophets and some of early followers traversed two thousand years in the past.
Locating these two metropolises on a map of the Middle East gives you some sense of scale. On to the great Arabian Peninsula, home of vast deserts, remarkable mountains and caravan networks. So many years confined in history, the mosaic we now call home mecca and madina straddles.
All it takes is radical to remove one of your fingers from mapping the cities in a direction towards your holy land. This journey of the body and spirit in particular — for those traveling from across the world — is one that requires planning. To answer the sacred call, step one is to know precisely what direction you are taking.
Partnering With an Umrah Travel Agency from New York
Organising a pilgrimage from the USA is elaborate as it requires a few visas, flights and boarding. If you want a trusted Umrah Travel Agency from New York, Crowne Travels provides complete Umrah packages specifically for American pilgrims. So we get it, you may think flying thousands of miles from the East Coast to Saudi Arabia and more specifically, the Western region. Let our dedicated team relieve you of the stress of planning international travel. With Crowne Travels taking care of the logistical obstacles related to your flights hotels get you transport, it allows you full-on focus on spiritual preparation.
The Geographical Location of Mecca
Mecca is a city in western Saudi Arabia and used to belong to the historic kingdom of Hejaz. Imagine an electronic map and zoom it into the Arabian Peninsula. Mecca is about 43 terrestrial miles (69.2 km) distant from Jeddah — one of the main port towns on the near side of the Red Sea
A City Surrounded by Mountains
A constraint on the geography, though realized only in their little valley (and actually now referred to as not just Bakkah but throughout history too like even now it must also effectively be; The Valley of Bakkah) since there is no other explanation for locating Mecca. Bordered with the top tough region of Sirat Mountains. Next comes the geography — secluded in an ancient mountain landscape. And bearing in mind that the city itself sits at roughly 909 feet above sea level. And you’re watching the DPW topographic maps driving mountains around you up close, enveloping (or encasing) Grand Mosque or Masjid al-Haram.
Climate and Environment
Its geographical situation highly affects the climate of Mecca. Summer in the city; extreme heat, well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat does not leave the barren mountains, so that after long dry months it burns fiercely and parched. This is vital for any pilgrim who will or intends to visit this journey as it decides what the individual can and ought to wear and how much power should be in reserve when taking an interest within the rites of Umrah and Hajj.
Tracing Madina on the Map
If you go northward on the map from Mecca, then you land eventually on the city of Madina. Formally named as Al Madinah Al Munawwarah ( The Enlightened City ), situated approximately just 210 miles north of Mecca and around 120 miles well off the Red Sea Coast.
An Oasis in the Desert
But unlike the barren valley of Mecca that was devoid to life, madina was a kirstal garden. If you were to look at a satellite map, you would still see small green fields around the industrial centre of Korea. Located at the confluence of three valleys land, Madina is completely within a fertile plain limited by an array of volcanic hills to the north and east and the Hijaz mountain range extending much across wiht its jagged peaks that soar high into the air. Better yet, it is more than 2,050 feet (625 meters) above sea level, which is higher than Mecca. Because of its higher altitude and oasis like nature, Madina is considerably less warm than Mecca, but it remains a desert climate.
The Spiritual Sanctuary
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque) is the center of Madina. All of the city radiates out from here, but while Madina is not a formal part of Umrah or Hajj, for millions it is not just an additional destination on their itinerary almost treated as a sacred journey filled with immense devotion and reverence towards the grave of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Navigating the Route Between the Holy Cities
That area between Mecca and Madina now carries such a heavy weight of historical context. As this is the course of the Hijrah, which is the historical migration taken by Prophet Muhammad in 622 CE.
Ancient Trails to Modern Highways
For example caravans used to take as long as two weeks back in the day to make their way across harsh desert landscape connecting the two cities. They used the stars for navigation, tentatively traveling from one water source to another. The map today is completely different. Mecca and Madina are connected by a network of contemporary, multi-lane roads allowing for around four to five hours travel on buses or cars.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway
Haramain High-Speed Railway: This railway is among the most recently and most crucial to be added to the regional map. Although Mr Kotter has expertise in many areas, his new favourite toy is the super-modern and extremely costly railway system that runs through a long swathe of desert linking Mecca, Jeddah and Madina. The train, at speeds of over 180 miles per hour, reduces the journey time between the two holy cities to just over two hours. This engineering marvel has essentially transformed the logistical experience of modern pilgrims, enabling them to visit both shrines in the same journey faster and more easily than ever.
Traveling with a Trusted Umrah Travel Agency from New York
Your map readings will come to life someday, so when you are prepared, getting possibly the best Umrah Travel Agency from New York is central. Distinction Crowne Travels is uniquely positioned to offer hobnobbing above the rest in sublime dedicated service for individuals and families traveling out of the New York metropolitan area. Here is the part where we book everything from fast train tickets between Mecca and Madina to close hotels to the holy mosques you will be walking in for a week. You can put your itinerary for the days or weeks ahead in the hands of Crowne Travels, and know everything you have planned will transpire smoothly, safely, and even more spiritually.
Embarking on Your Spiritual Journey
The most important and basic idea that comes from studying Mecca and Madina on a map is the context of the physical reality of the holy land. However, knowing the distances helps the pilgrims to prepare mentally as they know what lies ahead of them in mountainous Mecca and oasis plains of Madina. Maps reveal the roads yet many also indicate the height of elevation and distance between cities but most beautifully, these peaceful cities will sedate both mind(s) and heart to utmost relief where all distresses pale. When the time comes for you to make your way from home, across the expanse of dirt between you and the center of the Islamic world, do it backed by a team that recognizes what makes pilgrimage important. Contact today for Crowne Travels to plan your pilgrimage journey.