Visit Mali’s Legendry City, Timbuktu

The word “Timbuktu” is represented in many of the languages as some place far away but actually it I a city of Mali, an African country. The city is located near Niger River’s edge and was founded in the 12^th century by the nomads. With the passage of time it became an important trading-depot for Sahara Desert’s caravans. You can start you tour to the famous Timbuktu by booking an affordable cheap flights to Mali. The world came to know about Timbuktu as a rich cultural-center in the 14^th century. The famous Muslim explorer Ibne Batuta also wrote of the gold and wealth Timbuktu had and the city in general became known for the amount of gold it had and was also called the city made of gold.

Timbuktu became well known in the 15^th century not because of the gold it had but it’s serving as a major trade-center for salt in the desert region. The city also became a hub for Islamic learning, universities and extensive libraries. It is estimated that during the 14^th century its population was about fifty thousand to hundred thousand out of which nearly half were students and scholars.

Timbuktu has a long history and is a legendry city indeed with many explorers trying to reach there with many of them actually not making it. The legend of the city grew as time passed. In 1526 a Muslim explorer visited it from Grenada and further incited the interest in the city. A London based company in 1618 was formed to help establish trade with Timbuktu but unfortunately they ended up in a catastrophe and a second expedition then sailed up the Gambia River never reaching Timbuktu. Manny explorers failed to reach the city to never return during their attempts in 1700s and early 1800s as the harsh environments of the Sahara were difficult to survive and even the well known wells became dry or won’t provide enough water to survive.

Nations became so interested in the city that Geographical Society of Paris in 1824 offered a reward of a Gold metal valuing 2,000 francs and 7,000 francs in cash (valued a lot during that time) to the first European to visit Timbuktu and return to tell the story of the city covered in myths. It was France that took control of Mali in late 1800s and decided to take away Timbuktu from violent Tuareg’s control and the city afterwards became a site for French fort.

Timbuktu was declared as a United Nations World Heritage Site in 1988 and efforts are being made to protect and preserve the city especially the centuries old Mosques.