Well of Berhut. Part of hell on Yemeni lands
The mystery surrounding the well of Barhut
Barhut Well also called “Bir Barhut,” is one of the strangest places on Earth. People nickname it the ‘Well of Hell,’ and old stories link it to bad omens. Some say jinn live inside or that it opens straight into the underworld. For generations, nearby villagers stayed away - they feared the well would drive them mad or let evil spirits take over their bodies. Even so, a team of scientists recently lowered themselves into the shaft to find out what is really down there.
History of Bir Barhut
The well sits in Yemen and is said to date from the time of the Himyarite Kingdom. One legend claims a Himyarite king ordered the shaft dug so that jinn would stay locked inside forever. Villagers report that cries rise from the hole, along with a stench of poison and rot. Islamic hadiths call Barhut the most evil water on Earth, the opposite of the holy Zamzam spring. Preachers teach that the water holds the souls of unbelievers and hypocrites and every scholar rules that no one should drink it or use it for ritual washing.
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Reason for naming
Experts think the word “Barhut” comes from the old Himyarite tongue and translates as “land of the jinn.” The name fits the story that the pit was first meant to hide treasure - turned into a jail for spirits. Yemen has as many as three holes that share the name - people argue over which one is the true well placing it either in Wadi Hadhramaut or in Al-Mahra. Fear has kept the exact spot secret for centuries.
Description of the well of Barhut from the inside
The shaft drops more than one hundred metres. The opening measures thirty metres across and the walls spread out so the base is twice as wide. The sides are built of pale limestone and coated with green slime that grows on dead birds and other carcasses that fall in.
Attempts to enter the well
Stories tell of many teams that tried to climb down - none are known to have returned unharmed. Torches and cameras often stop working once people pass a certain depth and no one explains why the air pressure shifts. Even with the danger and the dread it stirs, the well still draws travellers and scientists who hope to solve its ghostly fame and its rock puzzle.
