Beit Al Mamlouka Hotel, Damascus

Saturday, May 28, 2005

Beit Al Mamlouka Hotel, Damascus

On a recent tour of old Damascus, I happened to visit the “Beit Al Mamlouka” hotel, located in the heart of Old Damascus, Bab Touma. The hotel dates back to the 17th century and combines a mixture of Mamlouk and Ottoman influence.
“Al Mamlouka” in Arabic means “the possessed”.

The Liwan(Inner Patio)& Fountain

The hotel was previously a home to a Syrian family and was in a very bad shape. It’s current owner undertook the daunting task of restoring it to it’s previous glory, maintaining all of the house’s original design, and turned it to a 9 bedroom hotel.
There are 5 hotels such as this in Aleppo, but this is the only one of its kind in Damascus.

Each hotel room has a unique design as well as it’s own special name such as the “Suleiman the Magnificant” suite, the “ Antar&Abla” room, and the “Abu Firas Al Hamadani” restaurant and bar.

Suite Ibn Sina - living room&Suite Baybars - Bedroom

The Terrace& Abu Firas Al Hamadani restaurant

What I liked most about this hotel were the little touches displayed here and there and the attention to detail, such as the verses of poems written on the wall above the bar, the well in the courtyard, and the beautifully decorated ceilings.

Beautiful wooden ceiling, Poem verses by Hafez Al Shirazi located above the bar

Decorated ceiling of the Baybars suite, well in the courtyard(Ared Diyar)

I also learned a few interesting facts about old Arabic houses. Here are some:

-Apparently, people in old times used to turn on the Bahra(fountain) when they were discussing something private or of importance to drown out their voices so that no one could hear what they were actually saying.

-People in old times used to heat using charcoal stoves, and this emitted high levels of carbon dioxide, that’s why most rooms in Arabic houses had one wall built and layered in a special way with wood and other materials then covered with whitewash to absorb these toxic fumes.

Technorati Tags:Al Mamlouka, Hotel, Arabic House

2:31 AM | Permalink | E-mail this post

what a wonderful hotel,
ae haa, we just need this kind of work to restore our beautiful city and promote it internationally.

I tried to enlarge the photos but it took me to flicker. do i have to register to save the photos??

Posted by Anonymous | Saturday, May 28, 2005 4:45:00 AM

damn those are sweeeeeeet. it is like some kind of awesome

Posted by Phantom of the Blog | Saturday, May 28, 2005 5:35:00 AM

Great hotel..
I am tempted not to sleep at my home next visit.

Posted by Sinan | Saturday, May 28, 2005 5:46:00 AM

What a beauty! Would like to visit Syria soon! Hey I've watched Kingdom of Heaven already. Really good. - nour

Posted by Anonymous | Saturday, May 28, 2005 6:13:00 AM

Amr: I've changed the photos settings so now you can get a larger view without having to register with Flickr.

Nurhan: I agree with you!

Sinan: I also felt like spending a few nights there.

Nour: I saw Kingdom of Heaven too :)
You're welcome to Syria anytime :D

Posted by Dina | Saturday, May 28, 2005 12:53:00 PM

Very beautiful Hotel, I wasn't aware of it.
I must visit it soon.

Posted by Baher | Saturday, May 28, 2005 1:49:00 PM

Great, very beautuful, dina, did u take those pic urself???

Posted by Ghalia | Sunday, May 29, 2005 1:42:00 AM

Baher: You should really go see it, it's great.

Rami: I totally agree with you. I have read your post on the award and I think that's great. I will be looking forward to reading your post.

Ghalia: Yes I did take them myself.

Posted by Dina | Sunday, May 29, 2005 2:00:00 AM

Looks great! Thanks for the info Dina.

Is it this house near Hammam Al-Bakri that is painted pink from the outside?

Posted by Ayman Haykal | Sunday, May 29, 2005 3:53:00 AM

Great post Dina :)
Loved the pics, and loved the info even more, specifically the carbon dioxide bit

Posted by x | Sunday, May 29, 2005 4:03:00 AM

Wow, like Sinan said, I'd love to stay at least one night at this gorgeous hotel if not Yallah the meeting we're going to have when I'm in Syria meeting, is going to be at this place. Hehehe...

Nice job, Dina... Great pictures. Thanks for bringing this hotel to out attention...

Posted by Sara | Sunday, May 29, 2005 7:38:00 AM

Steliano: Thanks for dropping by:)I left you a comment on your blog about Baron Hotel...I haven't been there personally but would love to someday...

Ayman: you're welcome :) Yes it is the one facing Hammam Al-Bakri...

Omar: Thanks.Glad you liked it ;) I also liked the bit about carbon dioxide.

Sara: Thank you Sara and you're welcome :) Inshallah we'll see you soon...

Posted by Dina | Sunday, May 29, 2005 2:40:00 PM

It makes me want to stay over a day or so in it eventhough I have my home in Damascus, still it would be a nice vaccation!

Posted by Catherine | Sunday, May 29, 2005 3:26:00 PM

What a beautiful place. I too would really like to stay there one day.. Having lived abroad for almost 3 years now, i have come to appreciate more our art and wealth of culture. Great post Dina and lovely pictures.

Posted by Anonymous | Sunday, May 29, 2005 6:53:00 PM

Catherine: Thank you for dropping by:) I also felt like doing that.

Ally: I'm glad you liked it :)

Posted by Dina | Monday, May 30, 2005 12:55:00 AM

Great pictures. Looks like a fantastic place I hope your stay there was fun.
Thanks for sharing.

Posted by Odge | Monday, May 30, 2005 5:13:00 PM

Shop Girl: Thank you :) You're very kind.

Odd: You're welcome. Thanks for dropping by :)

Posted by Dina | Monday, May 30, 2005 11:24:00 PM

Mirzaghalib: Thank you for dropping by :)

Posted by Dina | Thursday, June 02, 2005 11:29:00 AM

THe post is beautiful, it makes u wanna visit! I am Egyptian, never visited Syria, but had Syrian friends though. I would love to come visit some time. I also liked the bit of info you added at the end of th post..

Posted by Dalulla | Thursday, June 02, 2005 1:52:00 PM

Dalulla: Thank you very much for dropping by. I'm glad you liked the post. You are most welcome to visit Syria :)

Posted by Dina | Thursday, June 02, 2005 2:39:00 PM