Cruises from Bahrain

As of 2002, Bahrain became known as a kingdom. It is an island which can be found in the Persian Gulf. Located to the west of Bahrain is Saudi Arabia. South of Bahrain is Qatar. A bridge is being constructed that will attach Bahrain and Qatar and a causeway was opened nearly two decades ago that provides access to Saudi Arabia from Bahrain. Bahrain experienced a boom in 1932 when petroleum was discovered on the island.

Visitors heading to Bahrain should be prepared for high humidity and temperatures during the summer months where temperatures can reach up to 95 degrees. The one benefit of this is that the water that surrounds the kingdom is quite warm as the water is heated quickly because of its shallow depth. Many tourists prefer to visit Bahrain between November and March as the temperature is more reasonable but the evenings as a result can be chilly. Rainfall is sparse in Bahrain.

For those that enjoy motorsports a stop at Bahrain’s very own Formula One race track called the Bahrain International Circuit will be an enjoyable experience. The track made its debut in 2004 while hosting the Gulf Air Grand Prix. Numerous events have been held at the race track since then including the yearly Bahrain Grand Prix that occurs every April. A drag strip is also located on the race track along with an oval test track.

Each year more than eight million people visit the Kingdom of Bahrain. Aside from the new Formula One race track, tourists can visit beautiful beaches, forts, and even some great museums.

Tourists can visit the Barbar Temple which is a religious archaeological site. Located in Barbar, Bahrain are three temples though to be part of Dilmun culture. Archaeologists believe that the temples were built in order to worship Enki, the god of wisdom. Visitors will also notice a natural spring running through the temple area. Artefacts found at the ancient site which include gold, tools, and weapons can be seen by the public at the Bahrain National Museum.

The Bahrain National Museum is an excellent stop for visitors. This museum is home to some antiquities dating back 9,000 years. This includes artefacts that have been discovered belonging to the first inhabitants of the island. The museum has several halls covering a variety of different periods that make up Bahrain’s history. A new hall was recently opened that focuses on the natural history of the island as well.

Another archaeological site that is popular in the Kingdom of Bahrain is Qal’at Al-Bahrain. This is a Portuguese fort that has been in the process of excavation since the 50s. This fort was built on the remains of a city that had previously occupied the space. Further excavation revealed that there were an additional 6 cities that had fallen and lay buried in rubble below the fort. The first city to occupy the area dates all the way back to 2800 BC. At one point it was the location of the capital of Dilmun.