Mina is the valley 8 km east of Makkah where Hajj pilgrims camp and perform the stoning at the Jamarat. It holds roughly 100,000 permanent air-conditioned tents. Like Arafat, it plays no part in Umrah but is standard on ziyarat tours.
Mina at a glance
| From Makkah | 8 km |
|---|---|
| Tents | ~100,000 permanent |
| Role in Umrah | None, ziyarat only |
| Worth | 45 minutes |
What to see
The Jamarat bridge
A five-level structure handling the stoning ritual.
The tent city
Visible from the road; the scale is the point.
Masjid al-Khaif
The mosque at the base of the mountain in Mina.
Getting there
Mina is 8 km east of Makkah on the road to Arafat. Outside Hajj it is quiet and open; ziyarat tours pass through it between Makkah and Arafat.
Allow 45 minutes. The scale of the permanent tent city, roughly 100,000 air-conditioned tents, is what people remember.
Questions
What is there to see in Mina?
The Jamarat bridge: A five-level structure handling the stoning ritual. The tent city: Visible from the road; the scale is the point. Masjid al-Khaif: The mosque at the base of the mountain in Mina.
How long should I spend in Mina?
Ziyarat stop. The tent city and the Jamarat bridge.