TOMB OF THE MAHDI AND BAIT AL-KHALIFA

The cultural and religious home of Omdurman and, in a way, the country. The Mahdi, founder of the modern city of Omdurman, wanted to marginalize Khartoum, which he saw as a town built by invaders. It is therefore in the heart capital of the Sudanese that the winner of the English is based. Only a few months after were them from the confluence, in 1885, the Mahdi died of disease and was buried in great pomp in the city by his supporters. A tomb, with a pine shaped dome (typical of the Sheikh tombs in the region), later covered with silver dye, was set up in Omdurman. In the return of the English, they profanèrent the grave, too happy to be able to avenge the late Charles Gordon, a colonial hero killed during the seizure of Khartoum by the mahdistes. They threw the remains of the religious leader into the Nile and conservènt his skull. Which was, then, buried in Wadi Halfa. The tomb was rebuilt shortly before independence, with the British unwilling to alienate the mahdistes, which were not favourable to Egyptian guardianship on the Sudan. This tomb is today a place of pilgrimage for many Sudanese and a stronghold of the brotherhood of Des. The entrance is free, in the garden as in the building. Although the building (where one must déchausser) can be closed during your passage. You will notice the flags of the brotherhood of Des, recognizable by white trident on a black, red and green background (the colours of the national flag).

Just next door, there is the house where the direct successor of the Mahdi, but also Kitchener, lived for several months before it was set up in the current presidential palace. The house of Khalifa (Bait al-Khalifa; free entrance) houses a museum dedicated to this entire period of national history and highlights the characters of Ali Dinar or Osman Digna. Near the entrance, don't miss one of the first cars that drove in the Sudan or, later, the bathroom's bathroom, with manual feeding.

The Mahdi tomb (visible on Friday only, except for special events) and the Maison du Khalifa (closed on Friday, Monday and sometimes Saturday) cannot be visited at the same time.