Dar al-Hajar, sometimes referred to as the ”Stone Palace”, is the former royal residence of Imam Yahya, the spiritual leader of Yemen from 1904 to 1948. The palace was built in the 1920s and stands atop another building constructed for the scholar al-Imam Mansour in 1786. The palace is located in the Wadi Dhar valley which is about 15 km away from Sana’a and it is built on a natural rock spire.
Because it was built at a time when there was political unrest, the palace might resemble a castle rather than a palace at first glance. The Dar al-Hajar was intended to be the summer retreat home of Imam Yahya. Designed in the Middle Eastern architectural style, the five-story structure featured facilities like appointment rooms, and a Turkish bath to accommodate Imam Yahya’s senior officials and guests. It even has a system for cooling water in traditional earthen jars. The large garden at the entrance has a tree that is believed to be 700 years old. The exterior of the building displays the traditional Yemen stone carving.
Imam Yahya was assassinated in 1948, but the palace still stands as it was turned into a museum and it has become one of the most popular examples of Yemeni traditional architecture. The 500 Yemeni rials even have Dar al-Hajar on them.
