A fertile wadi, about 15km north of Sana'a, with small villages and clay-walled orchards, which grows grapes, apricots, peaches, pomegranates and nuts. It is also renowned for a beautiful five-storey rock palace, Dar al-Hajar, which belonged to the Imam Yahya during the early part of this century.
The palace was built on the ruins of a prehistoric building and is now government property. It remained empty until 1990, when a renovation project commenced. Occasional visits are possible by special arrangement.