Snapshot: Crossing the stunning Shahara Bridge in Yemen

Perched between mountains hanging 300 feet above the canyon, the Shahara Bridge is a stunning sight to behold, a limestone arch crossing connecting villages. Tourists from all over the world are said to flock to the Shahara village to marvel at this bridge.

A mountain settlement, the sizeable Shahara village sits atop the peaks of the majestic Jabel Shahara in Yemen. Admittedly, I don’t know much about Yemen. All I know about the place is learnt from the movie “Salmon fishing in the Yemen”, where Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt tried their best to rear salmon in the country’s unfriendly climate. Harsh weather, that’s my one takeaway of Yemen from the movie.

At over 8,500 feet (2600 meters) high, the houses here were constructed with stones that blend in with their hardened surroundings. Once a stronghold for the Imams, it’s a self-sustaining community that could survive in the toughest of conditions for months.

Travelers flock to the village because it is the gateway to its famous Bridge of Sighs. Erected in the 17^th century, it was used to connect Mountain towns in Yemen. The Shahara Bridge was also built to fend of Turkish invaders, and can be destroyed within minutes when in imminent danger. Looking at its precarious position, I fully believe this to be true. Despite looking like it can fall apart anytime does not stop locals from using it. The bridge is still actively used by the villagers, amongst wide-eyed tourists who walk the bridge gingerly so they can cross this off their bucket list. Meanwhile, the women from the villages carry sacks of grain and feed for domestic sheep across this connector.

There’s a bit of physical work to do before you get to the bridge. Visitors would need to meander the stepped slopes that lead to the bridge, but if you are able to get your hands on a local guide, they can recommend a route that requires minimal hardship. Once you get onto the bridge, whip out your cameras, the view of the mountains on both sides are phenomenal. You can soak in the visions of valleys peeking from between mountains and terraced farms creating orderly designs on unruly highlands.

Is the Shahara Bridge on your bucket list yet?