About Bahrain
Bahrain is an Arab island nation in the Persian Gulf. It is an archipelago consisting of the Bahrain Island and several other small islands surrounding it. The Kingdom of Bahrain, as it is officially known, was one of the first Gulf States to discover oil, but its rapidly declining oil reserves forced the country to diversify its economy. Today, the economy relies mostly on tourism, hospitality, retail, and processing crude oil from neighbouring states. Bahrain has also started investing heavily in finance and has endeavoured to become a leading regional banking centre, especially with respect to Islamic finance.
Bahrain is believed to be the site of the ancient Dilmun civilization. In the late 1700s, the Al-Khalifa royal family took over Bahrain. In order to secure their holdings, they entered a series of treaties with the United Kingdom and became a protectorate of the British. Bahrain attained its independence in 1971. Leaving the Emirates status, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002. The vast numbers of expats coming into the country for their livelihood had people talking about Bahrain as a country showcasing immense cultural diversity.
How to reach Bahrain
By Air – The Bahrain International Airport serves as the nerve centre to its national carrier Gulf Air. Almost all major airlines offer daily flights to Bahrain from cities like Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kochi. While travelling from outside of India, one can hop on a flight from all other major international hotspots like Bangkok, Singapore, Melbourne, and Cairo.
By Road – The Saudi–Bahraini Transport Company (SAPTCO) is the official provider of bus services in Bahrain. They run eight buses daily from Riyadh to Manama. Reservations should be made ahead of time as the seats fill up fast. One can also drive through any of the many inter-state highways that connect Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Rented vehicles are not advisable as it involves a ton of paperwork.
By Water – Various luxury cruises connect many Gulf nations, including Bahrain. A travel planned well ahead of time can even offer experiences such as feeling like royalty in the sea.
What to do in Bahrain
The discovery of oil in the country led to expeditious modernisation, and within years, desert tents transformed into skyscrapers over 300-metre high. People now visit Bahrain to see the ruins of the old Dilmun civilizations, the mighty fortress of Al-Qat Bahrain, the famous scuba diving sites in the country, and the whimsical desert town in the land. Bahrain is also one of the prestigious locations across the world, which hosts the Formula 1 Grand Prix, held every year in the month of April. Most people plan their trip to Bahrain around a race or a football match. The Bahrain National Stadium is huge and is designed to host a very large crowd of around 30,000 people. The top places to explore while in Bahrain are the following:
The Bahrain National Museum
Riffa
Juffair
Amwaj Island
Beit Sheikh Ali House
Hawar Islands
Isa Town
Hamad Town
Zallaq
A’Ali
Al Jasra
Qal’at Al Bahrain
Al Afreen
Saar
The Bahrain International Circuit
Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park
Reef Island
Ahmed Al Fateh Islamic Island
Bahrain Financial Harbour
Busaad Art Gallery
National Theater of Bahrain
Dragon City Bahrain
There are many cultural and theme tours offered by numerous operators as well as archaeological tours, which offer tourists a good sense of the history and heritage about Bahrain.
Major Airports in and around Bahrain
The Bahrain International Airport is the primary airport of Bahrain. Gulf Air is the national carrier for Bahrain. Other carriers that connect the land to all the major cities of the world include Fly Dubai, Sri Lankan Airlines, Emirates, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Jet Airways, etc. that connect Bahrain to.
Make My Trip offers a wide range of flights to Bahrain. One can easily log into the Make My Trip website or mobile app to book flights to and from Bahrain. Make My Trip flights to Bahrain are offered at huge discounts to first-time users as well as the regular travellers. Season tickets can also be availed at a great discount while booking from Make My Trip.
