Abu Sila

The village of Abu Sila, just a few km down wadi er Raha, started out as a winter residence for Jabaliya who were tending their orchards up in the mountains in the summer. A large boulder stands in Abu Sila, Hagar Garesha, which formed the wall of a dwelling which was the home of the first four inhabitants of Abu Sila 5 centuries ago.

Abu Sila (the father of floods) gets its name because of its position just above the gorge of el Bugiyya which floods after heavy rainfall. Abu Sila is located on the old pilgrims route from el Tor to the monastery of St. Katherine. Continuing past Abu Sila you reach Naqb el Hawa, the pass of the wind, leading down to the shortest route leading to Sheikh Awaad. Naqb el Hawa is the pass where pilgrims, after a tiring climb up the pass, stood amazed viewing over the er Raha plains and with the mountains of Horeb (mount Sinai) in the background.