Bahrain aerial viewAerial view of the Manama downtown area
photo sourcehttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MOW_RD8.JPG
authorshipRanam
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Places in Bahrain on this website


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Bahrain is a small island nation in the Middle East. Ruled by the Al Khalifa family, Bahrain is one of the countries in the Persian Gulf. It is an archipelago comprising 33 islands, the largest of which is called Bahrain. The country has a total area of 750 sq km (290 sq mi) and a population of 1.2 million people.

House in Manama, BahrainA beautiful house with intricate wooden carvings in Manama
photo sourcehttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hous_in_Manama.jpg
authorshipJayson De Leon
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The capital and biggest city in Bahrain is Manama. In 2009, the country has a nominal GDP of $20.6 million, equivalent to a per capita nominal GDP of $19,817. The per capital GDP at purchasing power parity is $27,214. The official currency of Bahrain is the Bahraini dinar. The phone IDD number is +973. The electricity is 220V 50Hz using the British standard BS-1363 outlets. Traffic is on the right side of the road in Bahrain.

The best time to visit Bahrain is between November to March, when it is coolest. After that, the weather becomes very hot and humid.

The name Bahrain means "two seas". It refers to the freshwater springs in the country that is surrounded by the sea. Bahrain has been inhabited since ancient times, and has been ruled by different powers including the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians and Arabs, who introduced Islam to the country.

Bahrain at nightStreet in Bahrain at night
photo sourcehttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tokyo_night_view_1.jpg
authorshipJohn Doe
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Bahrain was part of the Persian Empire from the 6th to the 3rd century BC. The Qarmatians, a sect of Shia Islam, conquered Bahrain in AD 899. They were defeated in AD 976 by the Abbasids. During the late Middle Ages, Bahrain included land on the eastern province of present-day Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese invaded Bahrain in 1521, ruling it for 80 years before being ousted by the Safavid dynasty of Iran, who made Shiism the official religion of Bahrain. The Iranians were to rule Bahrain for the next two hundred years.

In 1783, Bahrain was lost to the Bani Utbah tribe in battle. With the end of Persian rule, Arab clans moved to settle in Bahrain. The Al Khalifa family moved to Bahrain in 1797, and in 1820, they took control of ruling Bahrain. This was reenforced when they signed a treaty with the British recognizing them as the legitimate ruler of the island. By 1861 however, Bahrain was forced under British rule, with complete dominance over it in 1892.

By the mid-19th century, Bahrain had moved away from its traditional industry based on pearl diving, to become an emporium for the Persian Gulf, overtaking Basra, Kuwait and Muscat for that role. Prosperity and peace brought a wave of nationalism, and in 1911 a group of Bahraini merchants demanded greater autonomy from the British. Instead they were arrested and exiled to India.

Gudaibiya MosqueGudaibiya Mosque
photo sourcehttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gudaibiya_Mosque.jpg
authorshipPetr Kadlec
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Between 1926 to 1957, Bahrain was under the de facto rule of Charles Belgrave, the British advisor to the Emir of Bahrain. He was sent to Bahrain over British concern that Iran was again trying to claim the island. Meanwhile, petroleum was discovered in Bahrain in 1932, and this ushered rapid modernization to the country.

In November of 1957, Iran passed a bill announcing Bahrain as one of its fourteen provinces. The action strained relations with the United Nations, Britain, Saudi Arabia and a number of Arab countries. To "deiranize" Bahrain, Britain brought in large numbers of Arabs to work on the island. Iran pushed for a referendum with the Bahraini people, to determine the destiny of Bahrain, a move opposed by Britain and the Government of Bahrain. Nonetheless the Plebiscite was held under United Nations supervision on 30 March, 1970. The result, as conveyed to the Governments of Iran and Britain, is that the people of Bahrain want their territory to be recognized as an indepedent country.

Al-Fateh MosqueAl-Fateh Mosque
photo sourcehttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:7%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%AD_1.jpg
authorshipAlfatah11
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Today Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy headed with a king and a prime minister. It benefited greatly from petroleum. As with many of the Gulf states, Bahrain is home to a growing number of skyscrapers, among them the Bahrain World Trade Center and Bahrain Financial Harbour. On the drawing board is the supertall Murjan Tower, expected to be 1.02 km (3,353 ft) in height.

Planning your trip to Bahrain

Since February 2011, Bahrain has experienced a number of anti-government protest plunging it into political crisis. Until the situation improves, tourists are cautioned against making unnecessary visits.

Major Cities in Bahrain

  1. Manama - capital
  2. Hamad Town
  3. Isa Town
  4. Jidd Hafs
  5. Muharraq
  6. Riffa
  7. Sitrah

Places of Interest in Bahrain

  1. Hawar Islands

World Heritage Sites in Bahrain

Bahrain ratified the World Heritage Convention on 28 May, 1991. As of August, 2010, it has one World Heritage Site, in the Cultural category. Bahrain has also submitted another six sites presently on the World Heritage Tentative List. Sites in Bahrain on the World Heritage Tentative List.
  1. Hamad Town Tumuli Moundfield (2001)
  2. Barbar Temple (2001)
  3. Saar Heritage Park (2001)
  4. Hawar Islands Reserve (2001)
  5. Burial Ensembles of Dilmun and Tylos (2008)
  6. Pearling and its cultural landscapes in Bahrain (2008)

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Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

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