Morocco

KASBAH-OF-THE-UDAYAS
The Kasbah of the Udayas is the citadel or fortress in Rabat, Morocco. It is located at the mouth of the BouRegreg River opposite Salé. It is a tightly packed neighbourhood bustling within narrow walls and lined by whitewashed houses built by Muslim refugees from Spain. The perfect spot to breathe and relax is at the Plateforme du Semaphore overlooking the river and the ocean. Whilst here one can even indulge in the Andalusian Gardens where the local life of the city unfolds. This magnificent Almohad-built structure was declared a World Heritage Site in 2012.

MUSIC
We all imagine a specific melody at the mention of Arabic music and we owe this reflex of ours to the various movies depicting Arabic culture using a range of set soundtracks. Walking through Moroccan streets is like walking in a movie where you are surrounded by tunes and songs whooshing past you. The Moroccans are a people who love their melodious descendant and have made a great effort in expanding it while keeping it intact. From the very traditional Berber music to international fusions with Spanish, Algerian and Sufi music, Moroccan music can last from 2 minutes to a 4 hour long Nuba. You can expect men humming to the estranged strumming of a Moroccan guitar in a shy market corner. One can even say that the country expresses itself through music.

GNAOUA WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Being a country driven by music it is comes of no surprise that Morocco has a World Music Festival. Although it is labeled as a Gnawa music festival, participation by foreign artists holds true to the festival’s name. One can dance along to a plethora of collaborations of pop, jazz, rock and Gnawa musicians. A stage crowded by a European instrument being backed by Gnawa beats and traditionally clothed dancers is something to look forward to. Even a four day June festival isn’t enough for it is a musical dawn each year in Morocco.

CUISINE
Influenced by European, Mediterranean and Moorish cuisines, Moroccan cuisine has long been considered as one of the most diversified cuisines in the world. Morocco, home of the famous couscous, infuses its food with a perfect balance of rich spices and herbs including saffron, mint, cinnamon, ginger, paprika; most of which tend to be homegrown. Their cuisine extends to delicious herb pastes making it a full fledged Moroccan party in your mouth. According to one of the religious Islamic laws, consumption of pork is forbidden shifting their culinary art to chicken and beef. Tagine, a slow cooked chicken stew, is often considered as the national dish. However, one must look out for zaalouk (a smoky aubergine puree) at the start of every meal. Their food, like their language, carefully inculcates their faith. One example of this is the hearty lamb broth of Harira with which they break their fast everyday at sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. And who can forget dessert? Every market place is bursting at the seams with bakeries displaying freshly baked Moroccan sweets like cardamom-infused briouats. All said and done, they love their tea. There is often an art involved in the pouring of the tea. Higher the pour, better the tea.

VOLUBILIS
An ancient Roman city nestled in the city of Meknes, Volubilis is the farthest extent of Rome’s Imperial Road. A huge arch towers over you followed by a chain of magnificent mansions. This World Heritage Site is known for its unique Roman mosaic work with the use of motifs. Standing on extremely fertile land, it used to be a hub for the growing and pressing of olives. Like any other great structure, Volubilis has a history of it’s own, wherein it’s possession oscillated from one dynasty to another. The Roman city’s troubled past finally came to a halt when the French took over and unraveled it’s beauty to the rest of the world. Today it is one of the best preserved Roman sites outside the empire.

FEZ FESTIVAL OF WORLD SACRED MUSIC FESTIVAL
This 9 day long festival offers a huge selection of open air concerts ranging from Iranian musicians to mystic chanters and dancers. A celebration of Fez culture is also held at the same time which is a great chance to witness the local culture rejoicing traditionally in the beautiful walled city. Staying in a typical house in the Fez Medina takes you one step closer to their hospitality and good hearted nature. So if you are looking for a night filled with great music accompanied by slowly sipped mint tea and finger licking good food, this festival is where you have to plant yourself

KELAA-DES-MGOUNA ROSE FESTIVAL
Morocco is country washed with sharp shades of browns, greys, yellows and whites. However, pink takes over in the month of May with the celebration of this Rose festival. One knows that the roses have been harvested as their scent looms in the air. This festival lasts for two whole days and streets are lined with shops selling roses in huge quantities. As the rose parade rolls in people indulge in traditional singing and dancing which ends with a Miss Rose Pageant.

THE IMILCHIL WEDDING FESTIVAL
Imchil is a lake plateau located high up in the Atlas Mountains. This small village houses a marriage festival. Odd, isn’t it? Well legend says that two lovers belonging to enemy families committed suicide for their love and their sacrifice created two lakes. To honour this story, every year young girls ,dressed in their finest, dance for hours and young boys, accompanied by their friend to overcome shyness, attend in hopes of finding true love. Usually a wink or wave exchanged between the two is a sign of interest and holding of hands is a sign of selection. This three day long festival can be experienced by living in tents close to the plateau village. The expression of young love is truly a sight to be seen.

MARRAKECH BIENNALE
The Arts festival in Marrakech, now the Marrakech Biennale, is the first major Trilingual (English, Arabic & French) festival in North Africa. It focuses on cutting-edge contemporary Visual art, Literature and Film. It consists of a main Visual Arts Exhibition, other arts exhibitions, installations and happenings, discussions, debates and screenings based in the eclectic venues and settings that Marrakech has to offer. Morocco, a country known for its involvement in the arts, has a lot to show for it’s hardwork.

RAMADAN AND EID AL-FITR
The idea of celebrating sometimes differs for Moroccans. One of their most important and widely practiced festivals involves fasting. In the ninth month of the lunar year, they abstain from all kinds of enjoyment and pleasure including food and water. Their philosophy behind this is to refocus attention on god and purify one’s soul. They break their fast with the festival of Eid al-Fitr which lasts for several days and revolves around grand feasts and quality family time. It really is a sight to see their self-control and the month end festivities.

HASSAN TOWER
Hasaan Tower is a red sandstone tower that stands incomplete at 46m instead of its intended height at 84m due a sudden death. Many wonder why they should visit an incomplete minaret in Rabat but the stone work done on this structure is truly exceptional and the combination of a blue sky with this long flaming block of stone makes for a picture perfect scene. Being situated at a height, you can see a rare panoramic view of Rabat, Sale and the Bouregreg river. You can also benefit from visiting the Mohamed mausoleum sitting next it. There is a certain beauty to this incomplete World Heritage Site.

CHELLAH
Chellah is a medieval fortified Muslim necropolis located in the metro area of Rabat, Morocco. This ancient site has been used to its full extent. From a Phoenician trading emporium to a Berber Almohads burial ground, this site is almost as wise as an owl. The Marinids made the site a holy necropolis, or chellah, and built a complex that included a mosque, minaret, and royal tombs. Today, these unique Roman ruins are some of the most sought after by historians.

CHEFCHAOUEN
Chefchaouen, a small blue city, is situated in the Rif Mountains, just inland from Tangier and Tetouan. The name refers to the shape of the mountain tops which look like the two horns (chaoua) of a goat. There are several theories as to why the walls were painted blue. One popular theory is that the blue keeps mosquitos away, another is that Jews introduced the blue when they took refuge from Hitler in the 1930s. The blue is said to symbolize the sky and heaven, and serve as a reminder to lead a spiritual life. Majority of social media knows this city as the “Blue City” and dream of visiting it if they know where it was. Well, this little smurf village is yet another Moroccan treasure.

RAEES
The “Zaalima” song was shot at the Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes in the town of Merzouga in Morocco. Raees is a 2017 Indian action crime thriller film starring Shahrukh Khan, Mahira Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

AGENT VINOD
In search of the mysterious 242, Agent Vinod is led into Morocco through the Ibn Battouta Airport in Tangier, Morocco. Agent Vinod starring Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan was shot for 5 days at a spot in Tangier in North Morocco, called ‘The Golden Farah,’ which is also known as the same in the film. This place is actually the area of the Grand Socco marketplace in Tangier. At this place, Iram and Agent Vinod stroll around. Also at a nearby cafe called Place Socco, Agent Vinod is almost killed by a marksman. This Golden Farah area is definitely a spot in Tangier which has recently got a tourist status, thanks to the movie!

GAME OF THRONES
If you are a die-hard Game of Thrones fan and no part of Morocco seems appealing to you, you’re in for a surprise. Morocco is one of the exotic film sets for the world renowned series. Essaouira will be more familiar to viewers as the ancient city of Astapor, which played a vital role in the season three finale. The sun sets on the beautiful town of Essaouira, in Morroco another UNESCO world heritage site. It then provided the setting for the fictional city of Yunkai, which featured in the third season of Game of Thrones. The Ounila River and the red citadel of Ait-Ben-Haddou in Morocco impressed Game of Thrones producers.

INCEPTION
Inception, yet another Christopher Nolan marvel, was shot in Morocco. Cobb’s (Leonardo Di Caprio) ability to extract information from other people’s dreams was shown to us by him demonstrating it to a Japanese gentleman. He subsequently wakes up in “Mombasa, Kenya”- which was shot in Tangier’s Grand Souk (a bustling market place) on the northern coast of Morocco.

GLADIATOR
Remember that scene where Russell Crowe is sold into slavery in a time of Roman battlegrounds? That iconic scene was shot in Ait Benhaddou, an ancient fortified village.

DADES VALLEY
You may have heard of many a valley so what makes the Dades Valley special? Stretching from the High Atlas Mountains in the north to the Jbel Sarho in the south, this route is blessed with oases, palm groves and fortresses. Fortresses so much so the valley is also referred to “The Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs” owing to the several fortresses built for added protection. However, what truly sets it apart is the fact that enroute one can enjoy both, a semi desert on one side and snow covered peaks on the other. Once again representing the true contrast that is abundantly visible in the quaint country of Morocco.

ERG CHEBBI AND ERG CHIGAGA
The vast expanse of the Sahara may not be the most human friendly dessert but the sand dunes located south of Marrakech are certainly what one wants from the “dessert” experience. These two areas, marked by huge wind-blown sand dunes, offer the entire African extravaganza. From camel rides with shadows falling onto the dunes due to the blazing sun to cool, starry nights in a luxurious tent is what Erg Chebbi and Chigaga promise. The only difference between the two is that Erg Chigaga is the more rustic yet less visited area compared to Chebbi owing to its Chebbi’s incredibly accessible roads and luxurious options to spend nights at the edge of the dessert. However, both reveal the dessert with equal exquisite.

ATLAS MOUNTAINS
The Atlas Mountains shared by Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia have recently attracted trekkers, climbers and skiers. Why? These mountains being situated in a primarily “desert” country have snow covered peaks! Moreover, these mountains are dotted by Berber villages and it really couldn’t get more authentic than that. It truly is a sight to see their lifestyle; calculating distance in hours and days, their dependence on travelling markets since they don’t have local village shops or vendors and their use of intact ancient techniques makes you an expert on the forgotten culture of the Berbers.

TIZI N’ TICHKA
The drive to the Tizi n’Tichka pass goes through a winding road where the landscape and view change very often offering a condensed version of Morocco’s natural beauty. On passing the highest point, the Tizi n’Tichka pass that separates the province of Marrakech from Ouarzazate, you will see an impressive change in view and altitude followed by a panoramic view of the Jebel Tistouit. And of course, you will be able to see a number of villages and towns from the height you are at. A visit to the village of Telouet and its kasbah is a must. The kasbah’s embellishments in the marble and iron work will blow you away. Taking the road less travelled always resulted in something unique.

OUKAÏMEDEN
Oukaïmeden is a ski resort in the Atlas Mountains near Jebel Toubkal, about 80 kilometres from Marrakesh, Morocco. The skiing area is at an altitude of between 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) and 3,200 metres (10,500 ft) and has two ski lifts. There are some hotels and ski rental facilities nearby.

DESERTS AND PASTRIES
Bakeries are scattered all over Moroccan streets. Running into one and not trying “mssemen”, “batbout”, “harcha” or “baghir” would be a sin and an insult to all the beautiful Moroccan women who are the only ones with the ability to kill with a pastry.

WINE AND BEER
Contrary to popular belief Morocco is known for its wine production owing to the 30,000 acres of land dedicated to it. Along with the usual reds and whites, Morocco has something completely unheard of to offer. A grey wine! If you’re confused about which one to buy, Domaine Sahari –all colors— is the most recommended. Coming to beer, the brand “Speciale” is the most commonly consumed. Stork is also another option and then of course the rest of the range of imported beers.

SPICES
Spices are essential to Moroccan cooking and known for their medicinal value.

MINT TEA
Mint tea, the national Moroccan drink is served in homes, markets and at celebrations.

MOROCCAN CARPETS
Ever seen those colourful carpets on Pinterest or Instgram? Well, we have Morocco to thank for those vivid handmade carpets and rugs. Shops are lined in market places selling these rugs with a wide range of colours, patterns, material and designs to offer. Haggling is a must and one can even get customized carpets and have them shipped. Having a bright Moroccan carpet on your floor will always make you cherish your stay, don’t you think so?

BABOUCHE
French for slippers, babouche as known in the Kingdom is called “belgha” in Moroccan. These shoes are what Moroccan children, women and men have been wearing for centuries. The shades of colours and the plethora of designs almost make it seem like no two pairs are the same. These shoes have gained insane popularity worldwide with international actors and actresses incorporating them in their western style because that’s just how tasteful Moroccan babouche is.

OLIVES
Olives are a must with any Moroccan meal. Regardless of whether you want them or no, they are at your table, Souks have heaps of olives stacked up according to their kind and use. Stocking up on a year’s supply of olives while you’re shopping will surely go a long way.

LEATHER WARE
Leather work is one of the most beautiful and significant aspects of the Moroccan handicraft industry. Different provinces make different kinds of leather. However, all of them are equally excellent in quality, so much so that they are exported all around the world. Shoes, bags, belts, etc in leather make for some of the most niche things you will buy at a souk.

HAMMAM
A hammam is a public steam bath where people go to relax, exfoliate, rejuvenate and cleanse themselves. A public bath may not sound very exciting or hygienic but the Moroccans know how to keep it classy. This hot bath is followed by a massage so good that you may not feel your bones at the end of it. The décor of these baths often have a mysterious touch to them, adding to your magical Moroccan experience. In most villages it is a weekly ritual turned into a social gathering by the participation of men, women and children. Sometimes women sit for hours chatting away to glory. It seems like the perfect day off from all the rough housing Morocco can bring you.