The mosque located in the town of Al Thakhira is one of the oldest historical monuments in Qatar. The town itself is located just outside of Al Khor and if you are in the area, it is worth making a stop here. The traditional Arab buildings of the mosque blend in perfectly with the desert landscape. Strangely, in this place, you can feel as if time has suddenly slowed down its course – such a stark contrast to other parts of Qatar.
Al Thakhira means “the ammunition” in Arabic. There are two theories explaining this name. The first one is that the inhabitants of the town were in the habit of storing significant stocks of food, money, and weapons. The second (perhaps more romantic) theory speaks of sailors who lost all their possessions at sea. And when they found themselves on this coast and got off the ship, they took with them only what they had – ammunition.
The Al Thakhira Mosque is the main tourist attraction of this town. Unfortunately, I could not visit this temple from the inside, as only men are allowed to enter it.
