Ariha, Idlib

Ariha
أَرِيحَا
Town
Ariha is located in Syria
Ariha
Ariha
Location in Syria
Coordinates: 35°49′N 36°36′E / 35.817°N 36.600°E / 35.817; 36.600
Country Syria
GovernorateIdlib Governorate
DistrictAriha District
SubdistrictAriha Nahiyah
Occupation
Elevation
680 m (2,230 ft)
Population
 (2004)
 • Total39,501
Demonym(s)Arabic: ريحاوي, romanizedRīḥāwi
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)+3

Ariha (Arabic: أَرِيحَا, romanizedʾArīḥā, also called Rīḥā, رِيحَا) is a town in northern Syria, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located south of Idlib. Nearby localities include Urum al-Jawz to the southwest, Sarjah to the south, Kafr Latah to the southeast, Maar Bilit to the east, al-Nayrab to the northeast, Nahlaya and al-Mastumah to the north, Kurin to the northwest and Maataram to the west. Ariha is considered to be the ancient homeland of the Arains, the first and largest Muslim caste of the Indian subcontinent[citation needed]. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Ariha had a population of 39,501 in the 2004 census.[1] The town is also the administrative centre of the Ariha District and the Ariha nahiyah (subdistrict), which consists of 24 localities, with a combined population of 83,487 in 2004.[1]