Mount Uhud and Archers' Hill

Mount Uhud rises on the northern edge of Madinah, Saudi Arabia, a reddish granite massif about 1,077 m high and 7.5 km long. At its foot lies the battlefield of the Battle of Uhud, fought on 19 March 625 CE, and opposite the mountain stands the small rise known as Archers' Hill, or Jabal ar-Rumat, where the Muslim archers were stationed. A short climb up the hill gives a view across the field toward the mountain, and the battlefield faces the rising sun, which is why the first light of day between October and March is the most atmospheric time to arrive. From the top visitors can see the Martyrs' Cemetery, the Sayyid ash-Shuhada Mosque and the long dark line of the mountain behind. The cemetery, which holds about seventy Muslims killed in the battle, including Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, is enclosed and is viewed from the fence. The hill and surrounding ground are open air and free, and there is little shade, so summer visits are best limited to sunrise. A typical stop lasts 60 to 90 minutes with the hill, cemetery and mosque, and a half day if the surrounding area is explored. Photographs work best from the hill looking toward the mountain in early light, when the rock glows red and the plain is calm. Crowds are lightest at sunrise; buses and tour groups arrive from mid-morning, and the area is busiest around prayer times and at weekends. The ground on the hill is rocky and uneven, so sturdy shoes are advisable. Visitors should keep voices low near the cemetery, avoid climbing walls and dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered. The site is stop one on the Hop-On Hop-Off Red Route and can also be reached by taxi or ride-hail from the city centre.