Image: From your left: Amit Sharma ji, Shivaraman ji and Amit Zaveri ji. At Lake Bed and Meadow Point, not far from Riyadh
I was following this road-in-making on 'Google Maps' since two months. Last Friday opportunity came knocking when we decided to explore this unknown terrain. Interestingly, I did not read anything about it on the active travelogue websites or blogs about Riyadh and its surrounding regions. So it was totally a new experience for us. We found excellent picnic spots, picturesque secluded camping locations and above-all, easy accessibility. The entire route has diversions worth exploring for bird-watching due to scattered water-holes. Since the route is interspersed with water channels (dry beds), a 4x4 vehicle is recommended for coursing it but not really needed. Please look at the pictures and decide for yourself.
For us, we had a gala time with a breakfast of Idli-Vada, Sambhar, Pongal and Coconut Chutney (all staple Indian dishes popular for breakfast in southern part of the country), courtesy Shivaraman ji, and preparation of 'Chennai Spice Kitchen', an Indian food joint in Malaz area. My daughter Reyvika and Amit Sharma ji's daughter Katyayni also had a great time bonding over the trip and enjoying the vistas. They even trekked to apogee of a pyramid-shaped hillock en route. We had fun with their addressing one of us as 'Uncle' and our quick retorts as 'Which Uncle?'
I was following this road-in-making on 'Google Maps' since two months. Last Friday opportunity came knocking when we decided to explore this unknown terrain. Interestingly, I did not read anything about it on the active travelogue websites or blogs about Riyadh and its surrounding regions. So it was totally a new experience for us. We found excellent picnic spots, picturesque secluded camping locations and above-all, easy accessibility. The entire route has diversions worth exploring for bird-watching due to scattered water-holes. Since the route is interspersed with water channels (dry beds), a 4x4 vehicle is recommended for coursing it but not really needed. Please look at the pictures and decide for yourself.
For us, we had a gala time with a breakfast of Idli-Vada, Sambhar, Pongal and Coconut Chutney (all staple Indian dishes popular for breakfast in southern part of the country), courtesy Shivaraman ji, and preparation of 'Chennai Spice Kitchen', an Indian food joint in Malaz area. My daughter Reyvika and Amit Sharma ji's daughter Katyayni also had a great time bonding over the trip and enjoying the vistas. They even trekked to apogee of a pyramid-shaped hillock en route. We had fun with their addressing one of us as 'Uncle' and our quick retorts as 'Which Uncle?'
Image: We were fortunate to choose spring time as the whole route was dotted with wild flowering plants.
Image: Katyayni and Reyvika waving from the pyramid-shaped hillock
Image: Amit Zaveri ji trying to make panorama at Pyramid Point
The loop from Diplomatic Quarters / King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital and back would take around 225 km (update from Shivaraman ji) of travel. Add the distances of diversions you may want to explore.
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