Being a Tourist in One’s Own Country
For any of you who have vowed to embark on more domestic travel this year, or for those who have felt the urge to explore their own country, I call on you to embrace the exquisite beauty of Lebanon in its four corners.
With a country being so small in size, yet large in magnitude in terms of beauty and history, I was fortunate enough recently to explore a new dimension of the Bekaa… the village of Nabi Ayla.
Overlooking Niha to its left, facing the village of Ablah on one end and the vast Bekaa plains on another, Nabi Ayla is a village that cannot be overlooked as your next travel destination.
Nabi Ayla, a Landscape of Colors
Upon entering the village, you are greeted by Maqam el Nabi Ayla, a popular pilgrimage site for both Muslims and Christians. Rich in agricultural production, which makes the village a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts, Nabi Ayla is a landscape of greenery and plantation. Known for its cherry picking season that takes place at the end of May, summer there is when the view transforms from trees covered in blossom to a valley full of grape vines, apples, and apricot trees that grow in abundance.
Becoming more popular recently for nature-lovers and outdoor explorers, hikers have been frequenting the area more often to get a feel for the nature of Nabi Ayla that has not been tarnished by the pollution and corruption of city life.
Niha – Delightful with Every Step
Progressing to the neighboring village of Niha, located in the Bekaa Valley about 8 km north of Zahle, you are consumed with the beauty of multiple vineyards cared for by the village’s residents. Famous for its Roman archeological ruins, and in particular two lower Roman temples that date back to the 1st century AD, Niha houses a fortress, a common tourist attraction, that is carved into the rock of a cliff whereby the fort occupies a strategic mountain pass that connects Saida with the Bekaa.
With clean, crisp air that energizes the body and the soul, walking through the beautiful landscape adds on a new dimension of liveliness and vitality. The road leading to the fort is still intact…narrow streets lined with quaint, charming houses that welcome its visitors in the true hospitable tradition of a typical Lebanese village.
Truly, what a wonderful experience to have visited both villages and the carpet of splendor that lay within each, a true reflection of the beauty, purity, and modesty of its inhabitants.
