Until King Abdul Aziz conquered it in 1922, Asir was an independent kingdom. Because of its location, Asir has always had close ties with Yemen and this is reflected not only in the customs of the people but also in their architecture. Abha is the capital of the Asir and its cool weather, mountains and beautiful scenery make it a popular weekend resort. After being restored, it was reopened as a museum in 1987. It is open from Saturday to Thursday from 9am to 1pm and from 4pm to 7pm.
Admission is free.
Just outside Abha is the Inter-Continental Hotel which operates tours throughout the area, including one to Asir National Park, Najran and the Red Sea Coast. The Asir National Park is an enormous tract of land stretching from the Red Sea to the desert east of the mountains. It is in fact a series of small non-contiguous parks with each one having its own camping ground and picnic area. Close to the Yemeni border, it extends along the Wadi Najran and has been inhabited for about 4,000 years, most of that time spent as an important trading centre. The Yemeni cultural influence is very strong here both in architecture and in attitudes.