I pass by the park fairly frequently but I’ve rarely actually gone inside except for the basketball courts. Today I decided to take a walk around the park in order to appreciate it in its entirety. I started at the newly constructed King Hussein Mosque, which I promised myself I would pray in the first chance I got. I could hardly get a few pictures taken incognito without a security guard running after me to tell me that no pictures were allowed. I went for the duhr (noon) prayers so I haven’t seen how it operates when it’s full but only one word can describe it: Mashallah. It reminded me of a miniature version of the Prophet pbuh’s Mosque in Medina. The mosque is very wide from the inside and has a very large courtyard. It’s done in a very Umayyed kind of style; designed by Egyptian architect Khalid Azzam. I’m sure it will become a fairly notable landmark once the area is completed.
I think blogger Yazeed has one of the best picture’s I’ve seen of the mosque yet, which makes me want to take my camera back there in the spring. Hopefully I’ll have developed a talent by then.
After prayers I took a walk around the park. Aside from the fact that the park is incredibly spacious there are many noteworthy sites. First of all beside the mosque you can find the Royal Automobile Museum which is one of those places I know so much about without ever having had the opportunity to pay an actual visit. It is home to the numerous vehicles owned by King Hussein God rest his soul, and it is also the subject of another post soon to come.
Next to that is a children’s museum of some sort. I don’t know exactly what it will feature but it’s architectural design is very luring.
The rest of the park is all downhill.
What caught my attention the most was the main pathway that runs across the center of the park. Along this path is a wall that runs with it and upon this wall is an artistic interpretation of Jordan’s history. This history is not told in words but with the art engraved on slides alongside a 488 meter wall. In other words, if in 3,000 years another people are excavating the Jordan that we now know, these are the remnants they would find, in the same way that we discover similar artifacts of civilizations that once called this land home. In addition to this, I believe they’re going to have the Hijaz railway on display. I don’t know if that means they’ll bring the actual train to the gardens but the tracks for it have been laid down and they run right through the park.
One wall traces displays the Hashemite role as custodians of the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and another shows King Abdullah I entry into Jordan. Another wall consists of a Madaba mosaics alongside a running fountain and Roman pillars. Another wall has little statues and Egyptian style artifacts on display.
This whole wall and street is known as the Historical Passageway. Most of the artwork has been contributed by local artists.
The passageway leads to an even cooler area called the Cultural Village. This consists of a main square surrounded up above by cultural shops. In the main square the work of local artists is on display.
My favorite was a statuesque figure of a giant Black Iris. I have to figure out who made it.
The village also has a few restaurants and a cafe overlooking west Amman.
Much of the King Hussein Park is still unfinished but according to the employees they seem to be aiming for this summer. Judging by the fast paced non-stop work during the day, they might just be telling the truth.
It’s usually full of families especially in the summer months, but during the day it seems that 95% of its visitors are all young men and their girlfriends who all happen to be covered women. It was the oddest thing.
Your tax dinars at work. You can read more about the entire project here.
+ Salam has interesting pictures from her trip to Hanover where the artwork displayed above in the Cultural Village was on display at the World Expo.
U know, apart from its beauty, the place is very good for walking… remember when we talked about how unfriendly Amman is for walkers? This place however is great… I walk there almost everyday in the summer… It is beautiful and for some reason, it is never hot during summer nights there… if this is my tax money, thank you government (however, if they drove less expensive cars, I think the government may be able to make more places like these!)
couldn’t finish reading the post.. should be studying instead(!) I’ll come back later.
I pass by the mosque almost daily, and everytime i see it, I just wish i go visit. At night with all the lights, it looks so amazing. I’ve also wanted to check the museum as well, I know alot about it, but never paid it a real visit.
I’ve been to King Abdullah mosque once before, and was thrilled with the architectural beauty. I bet King Hussein’s mosque is just as equal, if not better in terms of its architecture.
Great job and thank you! I believe you own the most pics related to King Hussein Park on the web. The pictorial wall of history is especially nice and I look forward to strolling past it. So they have basketball courts and what else do they have football/soccer field? Skating area? Would you please elaborate a little bit more what this park offers for children?
oula: yeah i agree 😀
lubna: it’s much nicer from the inside and yeah you should definitely pass by it sometime.
anon: well i’ll quote from the hussein park website i linked above:
“The project includes a football field, and basketball, volleyball and tennis courts. Additionally, there are playgrounds for children and a traffic park to teach children basic traffic rules. There is also a camping area used by scouts and a stone stand that can hold 150 spectators, which can be used for giving lectures and other recreational activities. The project also includes a skiing rink for children with a stand that can seat 70 people.”
this is in addition to the children’s museum which looks more like an interactive place and is nearing completion.
Naseem,this giant black iris,and all that area surrounding it is actually the jordanian exhibition that was part of the World Expo held in Hanover in the year 2000 ,I went there that year and it was awesome ..the Jordanina expo was one of the best ones there..I am not sure if they won any wards, but I tell you people were really fond of it..having it in a sunken hole under the ground level drew everyone’s attention,and what really made it is the smell of fried falafel being sold underneath,there were tiny shops under the floor ..people were buying falafel sandwiches and checking out the exhibition and buying souvenirs ..it was a big hit I tell you.It was designed of course by a team of designers,I know that the architect in charge was Akram Abu Hamdan,but I am not sure who his team were.I was thrilled when I learned that it was going to be remantled in Al Hussain Park,because it fits there so nicely.
thanks for the info salam!
In fact,you inspirsed me,Nas,I think I will post the pictures I took there.It was an amzing experience.
yes! please do!
Naseem check out the pictures:
http://www.reflectionsallmine.net/archive/2007/1/144648.html
What next a commerative city of Malik Hussein? Yes i admire the late soverign but why? Worship
him this against the Deen! Use the money for appropriate usuage. Hospitals promoting health care,
along establishing Arab,Persian and African trade. Malik Hussein wanted the best for Jordan. This
was his goal to create efficient diplomacy for Jordan. Thank you Jordan for retaining the monarchy.
So many nations in the Ummah disguarded. And Allah has punished them, Jordan is leader in economics
for Levantine area. Still my only complain is the money should. Be used for schools and new hospitals
May praise his Royal excellency Malik Hussein. Great leader of Kingdom of Jordan your smiling at us!
I am going to have a tour around Jordan this summer break. I’m searching for some places to visit. King Hussein Park arouse my interest! can you please tell me where is it via google maps? And one more thing, I am eagerly want to know where’s Abu Darwish Mosque? Many websites told that it is amazing.
Just one more thing 🙂
I’ve surveyed for beautiful places to visit such as Petra, Wadi Mujib, Dead sea n etc. One website informs that the entrance fee is different from the fee listed in the Ministry of Jordan Website. Can I know the actual is?
Thank You