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The Sankore Mosque and the huge library inside it are the main Timbuktu attractions, which are frequently visited by tourists. Today, though, Timbuktu is an impoverished town, once it was the center of learning and the seat of propagation of Islam. It is also a home to the local governor.
Attractions of Timbuktu
The Sankore Mosque, which is also the university, was a famous seat of learning during the early 15th century. Many educational institutions were constructed in and around it. The University of Sankore was basically a madrassah. It was composed of several independent colleges, each run by a single master who was known as the 'imam'. The classroom concept did not exist in these madrassahs. The course was taken inside the open courtyard of the mosque.
The library of Timbuktu inside the mosque is one of the unique Timbuktu attractions, which the tourists should not miss. The manuscripts inside the library contain detailed information about how Timbuktu reached its zenith of glory in the past. These stand as testaments to each and every aspect of human endeavor, adopted by the West Africans at that time.
The Djinguereber Mosque, one of the major Timbuktu tourist attractions is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It flourished as another center for learning in 1327. It is one of the registered madrassahs under the University of Sankore. The architecture is exclusive and the mosque is made of mud and organic materials like straw, wood and fiber. Inside the mosque three inner courts are built to accommodate 2,000 people for prayers. Twenty five rows of pillars running east west direction support the structure.
Sidi Yayha mosque is another typical mud mosque bearing close resemblance to the other two mosques. However, its doors are ornately decorated showing the influence of Morrocon architecture. The mosque is yet another madrassah under the Sankore University. It is named after its first imam, Sidi Yahya Tadlesi. A museum and a tower are among other major tourist attractions of Timbuktu.
The tourists can also enjoy a camel ride to a nearby Tuareg camp. Spending one night with the indigenous nomads is a fulfilling experience. The Tuareg women arrange for dance shows and different cultural programs in these camps. For adventure enthusiasts, hiking up and over the Dogon cliffs is a thrilling experience.
Timbuktu, in its name conjures up mystical and curious ideas about an ancient city. However, the desolate city with its typical mud brick architecture is a real city in Mali, and a favorite tourist haunt for people travelers visiting West Africa.
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