It is a known place which was built on a granite rocky hill in Wadi Dahr, located in the west north of Sana'a . It was named a Rock palace referring to the rock place where it was built . It was constructed at the end of the 18th century . Mr. Ali Bin Saleh Al-'Amari was a religious man, great poet and wide-knowledge . He was much expert in engineering and astrology, he was appointed by Al-Mihdi Al-Abas and he was rebutted in the archeologically being designed some houses for Imam Al-Mansoor and some others in some other places. Then, he became in charge of constructing Imam Al-Mansoor's buildings and  the significant constructions that he designed, such as Rock place in Wadi Dahr which remained present during the whole Ages. Some adjustments were added to this Palace, such as the  present Mafraj (set and look over place) which was added by Imam Yahya Bin Hameed Al-Dayeen, nowadays, it is used as a tourist milestone, it is open for all tourists who are desired to see the internal archeological touch of that construction.

It is located in the north west of the Capital Sana'a, far from it around 14 km., it is very large and famous since the previous time. The Valley was inhabited in the prehistory Ages. The first mentioning for Wadi Dahr was 7th century B. C. this was mentioned by Karb Elwatar Bin Dhamar Ali, King of Sheba, during the prosperity of Sheba State, Wadi Dahr was appeared in the range of Dthi Madan Tribe which settled in Sho'ab area, North of old Sana'a, nowadays it is included within the Capital Sana'a. Some towns belonged to this tribe because too much water was running on the Wadi at that, the ground was fretful there. Complete description was given to this Wadi, such as the place of palaces; the fruits that were grown over there, the way of irrigation and its rock graves. Different types of apricots, figs and pear which can not get the similar to in the world. Wadi Dahr was getting irrigation from down to up, all the farms there were irrigated in such away, even if the owners of the farms were immigrated or the grounds were not planted, the person who was in charge of irrigation was called Al-Da'el, one of his mission was rooting out the plants in case one of the owners (farmers) did not follow the straight instruction of irrigation Wadi Dahr has several characteristics which made it more attractive for the foreign tourists, and it is one of the beautiful resorts visited by the inhabitants of Sana'a and the nearby places people to enjoy their time there.

It is a famous fort, looks up the Shibam Kokaban town, it is 3,000m above the level of the Sea. The name of this fort was mentioned by Al-Hamdani. It was said that the name of the town Kokaban came from the materials of constructing his palace, which was made of silver and stones that contain the corundum and gem. They were shining at night as the star. From that time it took this name "Kokaban", and was reputed since the Al-Motahar Sharaf Al-Dean had it as a well-fortified fort during the battles against Turkish troops.

It looks over Shibam Kokaban town, and it is 3,000m above the level sea. The name of the Fort was mentioned by Al-Hamdani, and it was given the name (Kokaban) because its palace was constructed of silver and stones that include corundum and gem, and at night these components are shining like an astral (Khokab). This Fort had a good reputation when Al-Motahar Sharaf Al-dean used it as a fortified place during his battles with Turkish troops. It was also used as a place of Abdul Khader Emirate, one of the grandsons of Imam Sharaf Al-dean at the end of the weakest Imams era. Many known authors, poets and scholars were reputed in Kokaban and the singing way was developed as well. But the name of the Fort was related back to Kokaban Aqan Ben Zara, which was one of the most known places in Yemen.

The Fort Architecture:

The main entry is located on the northern side of the middle partition boundary of the castle. There is a gate, which made of two big wooden doors, goes to the eastward, the outer parts of it is faced with mentallic tinplate. The entry is a part of the middle boundary, which surrounded the castle. The left part is higher, it is called Al-Qashlah, it consists of two floors, the down floor includes many rooms opening to the internal square, the other one is the same like the first, there is a corridor at the top of this floor, and there are many posts which were used to throw arrows to protect the Fort in case of any attack. There is a defensive round tower at the eastern north side of the Fort, and there is an underground digging tunnel at the eastern side of the fort, which could be reached through steps, this tunnel goes to the lower town. The upper part of the entrance was decorated with a board made of mica, some poetic lines are written of that board, these poetic lines praise the Fort and specify the time of its construction and the entrance name, but most of these words were suppressed, so they can not be read. 

Is a masterpiece of engineering. Built in the early 17th century across a gorge over 900 feet deep, it linked the two parts of the village, situated on two different peaks. Of the three original arches, designed by the architect Salah Al-Yamani, only one remains intact.

As most of the villages in the north, the houses of Shihara present a mixed construction technique that uses wood and brick to guarantee elasticity to the building. The windows are plastered white although they lack the refined decorations of the towns; the roof is wooden beams covered with reeds that jut out over the edge of the building.

The Big Mosque (Al-Gama' Al-Khabeer):

It is located at the middle of the town, and was built in the third century (A.H.), it is attributed to the prince Al-Yafari Asad Bin Abi Yafar who was one of the Al-Yafar State rulers, and he took Shibam as a capital of his State. The importance of this mosque backs to the old time of its construction and design, as the common design in building the mosques. It is like a mini model of the Big Mosque in Sana'a.

It is situated in the old market, westwards of Al-Masna'h Fort, the importance of this construction was very common in taking up lodgings for travelers, passers by and traders who were traveling from neighboring towns, they were taking rest along with their caravans because of tiredness, then they continue traveling to distribute their own goods, the citizens of the town say that the Samsarah was in a good condition till 1995, the roofs were fell down due to the heavy rain and carelessness.

It is located in the northeast of the province center. It's height is about 500m., people reach there through a paved road, which goes to the Fort's entry in the eastward, and there is another road in the west. At the center of the fort, you can find remains of foundations and constructions. The slopes were used to make a water block which extends through small canal goes to a stoned concealed pond. In the Fort you can find huge concaved-shape stones, which have hollows in them, as if they were used in grinding the sesame. Generally, the Fort was as a heading defensive center, which looks up most of Al-Mahweet countrysides and its highest mountains.

It is known as Masnat Al-Tabs, it was mentioned by Al-Hamdani's book titled "The Characteristic of Arab Island". According to the mentioned name we can conclude that some people inhabited the mountain during the pre-Islam period. Nowadays, it is used as an Administrative Office in Mahweet. The Fort was constructed on a high mountain mound.