Makkah to Madinah for 35–50 Riyal, Jannat al-Mu'alla Timings and Other Umrah Tips

If you want to go from Makkah to Madinah on your own, go to the parking area outside Al-Hijrah Road and Shabeeha Road. Ask the taxis and larger cars there for "Madinah". They usually charge 35 to 50 riyal and get you to Madinah in 3 to 4 hours.

Most people on an Umrah visa package don't need this, because bus transport between Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah is normally part of the package. This option is for individuals and iqama holders travelling on their own.

Jannat al-Mu'alla (Maqbarat al-Ma'lah) is Makkah's oldest graveyard, where the grave of Hazrat Khadija (R.A) is. The most important thing to know:

It opens only after Fajr and after Asr. At any other time you'll find the gates closed.

Some other things I learned on the walk:

• Women can't go inside. They can see the graveyard from outside the gate. Men can enter.
• It's a long walk. From Ibrahim Khalil Road, through Masjid al-Haram, past Safa and Marwa and then Masjid Jinn, it was roughly 2.5 to 3 km.
• The graves are almost flat and look alike. Only Hazrat Khadija's grave is known by name.
• Free water bottles are kept at the gate. I took a few and handed them out to people on the way back to the Haram.
• The graveyard has two parts, linked by a passage under the road bridge. Hazrat Khadija's grave is in the second part.

The As-Safiyyah Museum is near Gate 305 of Masjid-e-Nabwi, towards Bilal Masjid road. The ticket is 25 riyal.

Inside, the museum walks you through:

1. The creation of the universe, with ancient stones and samples of gold.
2. Soil from different parts of the earth, explaining the creation of Hazrat Adam (A.S) and why people differ in colour and temperament.
3. The Prophets: Hazrat Nooh (A.S) and the ark, Hazrat Ibrahim, Hazrat Musa and Hazrat Isa (A.S), told on screens.
4. A model of Ghar-e-Hira, the seerah of the Prophet (S.A.W) and a Quran manuscript from the time of Hazrat Usman (R.A).
5. The Day of Judgement, shafa'at, Jannat and Jahannam, shown with digital screens and models.

My review: for 25 riyal the information is good, especially if you don't know much about Islamic history or the creation story. The one problem is that the audio guide was only in Arabic when I went. It really should be available in Urdu and other languages.

• Ibrahim Khalil Road near the Clock Tower is where Umrah company buses drop off most new arrivals.
• At night, sellers lay out goods on the pavement for 2 to 5 riyal. A thobe there cost 15 riyal.
• The municipality (baladiya) regularly clears the street sellers. When they arrive, everyone packs up and runs.
• Shops close at prayer time and open again right after.
• A janaza (funeral) prayer is held after almost every prayer at Masjid al-Haram.

At around 11 PM I went looking for a money exchange to change Pakistani rupees, and every one near me was closed. You can change money at the airport, but the rate is higher. The simplest option is to bring riyal with you from Pakistan.

Even after Asr the sun was strong.

• Carry an umbrella and sunglasses.
• Keep a water bottle. One costs about 5 riyal, and you can refill with Zamzam from the coolers inside Masjid al-Haram. The Zamzam coolers are for drinking only.
• Look after your health and you can explore everything.

The Hafilat Makkah bus service has a station near Marwa, and buses run to many parts of the city. It's a good way to get around once you know your route.

Planning your own Umrah? See Travel with Tayab Umrah Services for visa, hotels and transport from Pakistan, and watch the full Saudi Arabia series.