Western Wall (HaKotel)

The Western Wall, known in Hebrew as HaKotel, is the best-known surviving fragment of the retaining wall that supported the Second Temple compound in Jerusalem, Israel. It stands at the foot of the Temple Mount on the edge of the Jewish Quarter and is the holiest place where Jews can pray. The lower courses are massive Herodian stones, while the upper rows are smaller and date from later Roman, Islamic and Ottoman repairs. Visitors enter through a security checkpoint from Dung Gate or via the Jewish Quarter and arrive in a large open plaza. A fenced prayer area sits directly against the wall, divided into a men's section on the left and a smaller women's section on the right, with a separate egalitarian platform at nearby Robinson's Arch. Worshippers press notes into the gaps between the stones, and visitors of any faith may approach the wall, touch it or simply stand and watch. Men are given a paper kippah at the entrance, and modest dress with covered shoulders and knees is expected. Daily life here follows the Jewish calendar. Dawn and dusk prayers draw steady crowds, while Friday at sundown the plaza fills with singing as the Shabbat welcome begins, and bar mitzvah processions with drums and dancing are a common weekday sight. During Shabbat and Jewish holidays photography and phone use are not permitted in the prayer areas. The plaza is open around the clock, which makes late-night and pre-dawn visits possible, when the atmosphere is quiet and the stones are lit. A typical visit takes thirty to sixty minutes, although many people linger longer. The best photo angles are from the raised walkway near the Mughrabi Gate ramp, which looks down over the plaza with the Dome of the Rock behind, and from the viewing platform at the plaza's southern end. Crowds are heaviest on Friday evening, Saturday and major holidays such as Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. Combined with the nearby Western Wall Tunnels, the Jewish Quarter and the Temple Mount visit, the wall makes a natural anchor for a half-day in the Old City. Entry is free and no ticket is required, and security staff may ask visitors to open bags.