On the shores of the Larnaka Salt Lake, surrounded by cypress, palm and olive trees, Hala Sultan Tekke is the most important Muslim religious site in Cyprus and one of the most important Muslim shrines in the world.

Hala Sultan Tekke is a complex of 18th and 19th century religious buildings, including a mosque, mausoleum and guesthouses. It was built on the site of the tomb of Umm Haram, the wet nurse of the Prophet Muhammad, who died in Larnaka, while accompanying the first Muslim raid on Cyprus in 647-649 AD.

For many Muslims, the Tekke is considered the fourth most important religious site in the world, after the Kaaba in Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad's tomb in Medina and Mescid-i Aksa in Jerusalem.

There are no regularly scheduled guided tours at on site at the Tekke so your best bet is to either self-guide, which should be sufficient for most, or go with an organized tour group.

The Tekke is a fairly small site, so unless you have a specific interest in the site, expect to spend between 30 and 45 minutes there. In the winter (November to March) photographers and nature lovers might additionally enjoy a long walk around the Larnaka Salt Lake, where you are likely to see migrating pink flamingos.

Hala Sultan Tekke is 6km (4 miles) west of the center of Larnaka, on the road to Kiti, about 1km from the main international airport at Larnaka. Given its proximity to the airport, it can easily fit into almost any itinerary in Cyprus.

Highlights and Quick Facts:

• The tomb of Umm Haram, the wet-nurse of the Prophet Muhammad

• The Ottoman style 18th and 19th century religious complex of the Tekke, comprising the mosque and the minaret, mausoleum, guesthouses, fountains, cemeteries and gardens

• An octagonal ablution structure containing eight water outlets where pilgrims wash their feet before entering the mosque

• The tomb of Abdilya bin Abdullah, great-great grandmother of the current King of Jordan

• Its location on the banks of Larnaka Salt Lake.

• Flamingos and other migratory birds on the lake (November to March)

• Hala Sultan is Turkish for Umm Haram, while Tekke is a Turkish word for Khanqahs, gathering places for Sufi brotherhoods.

Look Out For:

• While you can theoretically walk from the airport (20 minutes), given that the road to the airport is a major highway, you should exercise extreme caution and walk as far off the highway as possible. It is too far to walk with luggage.

We recommend taking a taxi (approximately X euros from the airport, round trip), driving – if you have a rental car, or visiting as part of an organized excursion

• If you wish to enter the inside of the mosque, you will be asked to take off your shoes