The Pearling Path

What to Expect

Pearling Path: Homes and Pearl Beds

The Pearling Path includes 17 buildings in Muharraq, three pearl beds (Hayrat), and part of the Bu Maher Fort and coastline, from where the pearl diving ships once set sail. This path features homes and structures linked to pearl diving, including the house of the Tawash (pearl merchant), the Nukhada (dive captain), and the divers’ houses, along with shops that traded in ships and wood or provided supplies for pearl diving voyages.

Let Your Imagination Roam and Hear the Tales of Diving

Spanning approximately 3 kilometers, the path takes you from house to house, each with its own memories and stories that your imagination brings to life. At Beit Al-Alawi, the provisions trader, imagine him preparing supplies for the ships set to sail soon. In Bader Ghuloom’s house, envision a traditional healer tending to divers suffering from eye pain or skin ailments, moving patiently from one to the next. At Beit Fakhro, a pearl trader gazes out toward the sea, watching for the return of the pearl-laden ships. In the Al Ghus house, groups of men prepare for journeys that will take them far from home and loved ones. In Bait Al-Jalahma, picture women gathered in the hafiz (main reception room) in the center of the house, waiting for the heroic divers to return. From atop Bu Maher Fort, overlooking the sea, envision yourself standing among women and children, emotionally bidding farewell to the bawanish (pearl diving ships) as they depart for the pearl beds, a journey that would keep them away for three to four months, or imagine the joy and laughter as they celebrate the return of their loved ones.

Discover the Social Impact of Pearl Diving

The Pearling Path reflects the journey of pearls from the sea to the majlis of the tawash, where pearls were negotiated for sale, while offering visitors insights into the social and cultural impacts of pearl diving. The tawash’s house is vastly different from the diver’s, while Bait Al-Jalahma’s design, with areas reserved for women, reflects their circumstances during diving trips and highlights their roles in the absence of men. The gatherings where tawashs welcomed traders from India and Europe, show Bahrain’s open and hospitable spirit. The locations of homes and shops near the sea also highlight how pearl diving influenced the layout of cities at that time.