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Mark Tours > Destinations |
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OMAN DESTINATIONS |
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Muscat |
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Throughout Oman’s history, the capitals of Oman have shifted between Nizwa, Sohar and Muscat, depending on the rule of the existing Imams or Sultan’s. Interestingly the Sultanate was known for a long time as Oman and Muscat. It was with the ascendance of the Al Busaid dynasty that Muscat became the capital, in 1786 and only in 1970, after His majesty Sultan Qaboos ascended the throne that the country became singularly known as Oman.
Muscat means `anchorage’ and today is also referred to as `three cities’, an allusion to Muscat, Muttrah and Ruwi, which lie bordering and complementing each other. Muttrah is the ancient and present port, Ruwi, the commercial capital and Muscat, the political capital and seat of the Sultanate.
Muscat – The Old Town
Wedged between the mountains and the sea, the Old Town held a strategic and commanding position as the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Little is known about its early days, often eclipsed in fame and importance in Oman’s maritime history by the busier port of Sohar. It was in the early part of the 16th century when Muscat gained prominence in trade with merchant ships to India using the port. In 1507, the Portuguese conquered the busy port and during their period built the two fortifications, Jalali and Mirani Forts to safeguard their trading interests.
Till the early part of the 19th century, the only access into the town was through the sea or by paths over the jagged mountains surrounding the town. This isolation began with the construction of the city walls during the period of the Portuguese. The walled city had three gates; Bab Kabeer, Bab Saghir and Bab Matha’eeb. Each of these gates were entries for specific persons, animals or vehicles. Bab Saghir or small gate was to be used by pedestrians and donkeys, Bab Matha’eeb for large vehicles and Bab Kabeer or big gate for small vehicles. Until 1970, the city gates were locked every day three hours after sunset and could only be opened with special permission from the Wali (governor). Drum beats twenty minutes before the closing time sounded the imminent closure of the gates. It was only after 1970 that the gates were left open and Muscat awakened from this self imposed isolation. Interestingly, the city gates continue to be locked at a specific time every evening as a remembrance of times gone past.
Muscat, today house many old houses, some of which have been converted to Museums, the Jalali and MIrani Forts and the imposing blue and Gold colored Al Alam Place, the Sultan’s palace. Jalali Fort, once used as a prison, is today used as a garrison for troops of the Omani army and Mirani Fort is today the headquarters of the Muscat garrison.
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Muttrah Souq |
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Set at the scenic Muttrah harbor, the Muttrah Souq or Souq Al Dhalam (Market of Shades) is a covered intricate labyrinth of shops and alleys selling most everything, from Khanjars to Pashmina shawls. One of the oldest of the souqs in Oman, the Souq is an ideal souvenir hunting place with wooden picture frames from Ibra, khanjars (traditional curved dagger) from the Hajar mountains, muskets polished and ready to be adorned on your walls from the early Dhofar wars, dishdashas (traditional Omani dress) and sandals, aluminum `Shuwa’ dishes, and mandoos or wedding chests.
Alongside these souvenirs shops and in between them too, Indian merchants hawk Pashmina shawls, Thai clothing and fruit juices!
A walk through the alleyways provides a wonderful feel to Oman itself; friendly, smiling shopkeepers, the smell of spices, frankincense and bokhur (mixture of various perfumes) permeating the air and the sound and effervescence of a busy market.
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Nizwa |
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Nizwa, the verdant oasis city with its blend of the modern and the ancient was the capital of Oman during the 6th and 7th century. One of the oldest cities of the Sultanate, this was once a center of education and art. Nizwa has been an important cross roads at the base of the Western Hajar Mountains connecting Muscat, Buraimi, and the lower reaches of Dhofar. The Falaj Daris of Nizwa is the largest single falaj in Oman and provides the surrounding country side with much needed water for the plantations.
The city, famous for its historical monuments, handicrafts and agricultural products, has an expansive Souq showcasing a wonderful array of handicrafts - coffee pots, swords, leather goods, silverware, antiques, and household utensils. Nizwa fort, completed in the 1650s, was the seat of power during the rule of the Al Ya ruba dynasty and is Omans most visited National monument. The reconstructed Sultan Qaboos Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Oman. In the evenings, the call of the muezzin fills the air calling the faithful to prayer.
A few kilometers from Nizwa lies the mysterious town of Bahla. Bahla is the home of myths and legends that have carried through the centuries. Some people today still believe that magic is afoot in Bahla and many Omanis are superstitious when it comes to talking about Bahla. This little town is famous for its pottery. The old Bahla fort with its 12 km wall is the oldest fort in Oman. The fort is believed to have been built in pre-Islamic times and is now undergoing reconstruction sponsored by UNESCO and the site is included on UNESCO list of World Heritage monuments. A short distance beyond Bahla lies the Castle of Jabreen. This massive three-storied was also built during Al Ya ruba dynasty of the mid 1600s. It is a fine example of Islamic architecture with beautiful wooden inscriptions and paintings on the ceilings. Other interesting locales between Nizwa and Bahla are the 400-year-old village of Al Hamra and the mountainside village of Misfah Al Abreen |
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Bahla |
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An oasis town, located about an hour’s drive from Nizwa, Bahla is best known for its Fort, built by the Bani Nabhan tribe who ruled Bahla between the 12th and the 15th century. Designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site, this fort, built on stone foundations with its walls and towers made of unbaked brick, has been undergoing restoration since 1987.
Importantly, with its fortifications noticeable as you enter Bahla, Bahla was once a walled city, with its walls extending for about 7 kilometers, believed to have been built by a woman, 600 years ago. Enclosed within the city walls, apart from the fort, there is a Mosque and a Souq. Amongst Omanis, Bahla is infamous as the centre of `jinn’ or spirits that support occult traditions of black magic and alchemy, not in practice anymore.
Today Bahla is better known as Oman’s pottery capital. It is believed that everyone who is born in Bahla knows a thing or two about making pottery, since this has been an occupation since ancient times. Bahla’s superiority in pottery is attributed to the clay found on the bed of its oasis and one can see the quality of workmanship on display at the beautiful, traditional Souq at Bahla.
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Birkat Al Mouz |
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Birkat al Mouz, means village of bananas, is a quiet oasis village nestled on the foothills of the Jebal Akhdar Mountains, with date palm plantations and an abandoned village.
The abandoned village lies on a foothill and is made up of deserted mud houses and a falaj system, an ingenious water channel system used to transport water from aquifers in the mountains to the homes of the people. The falaj is also abandoned.
This pretty village lies very close to Nizwa and it is from here that one turns off to the Saiq plateau, commonly called Jebel Akhdar.
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Jabrin |
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Jabrin Fort is perhaps the best preserved of all the forts and castles in Oman.
Built by Imam Bil arab bin Sultan in 1670 as a defensive stronghold and later used as a residence for the Imam, it was also an important centre for Islamic learning.
As the Imam’s residence, the Fort has separate living rooms, guest rooms and store rooms and also a common corridor connecting the living areas. Jabrin’s beauty though lies in the elaborate details and carvings in the rooms and balconies of the fort. Finely painted flowers and symbols are found on the wooden ceilings and in the living rooms. There are date store with channels for the crushed date juice to empty themselves into large storage vats, for use for the inmates of the castle. A falaj was used more as an air con than as a water channel.
From atop the fort, one can have spectacular views of the surrounding plains with the Hajar Mountains at the far end of the horizon.
The tomb of Imam Bil arab remains within the fort. |
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Al Hoota Cave |
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Located at the foot of Jebal Shams, the Al Hoota Cave takes its name from the name of the neighboring village. Situated in the A’Dakhliya region, it is very close to Nizwa and also to Bahla.
One of the largest cave systems in the world, the al Hoota cave system consists of two caves, Al Hoota cave and Al Fallah cave. It is believed that the largest chamber in the cave can hold a commercial jetliner! The total length of the cave is 4.5kms long but visitors are allowed only into about 500 metres from the cave’s southern end.
Constructed over millions of years, by water seeping through crevasses, making space for itself by diluting rock and limestone, this cave system is an example of karst topography and a geological marvel. The cave is dripping with stalactites and filled with stalagmites. What strikes a visitor is the `wet’ feel to the entire place and the contrast between the bone dry roof of the Hajar Mountains and the wet softness of the cave interior! The cave has a even a lake within, about 800 metres long, 10 metres in width and about 15 metres in depth. Interesting in these interior depths, where sunlight does not enter, a blind fish survives on a byproduct of oil!
You enter the cave system through Al Fallah Cave. From the visitors centre you alight onto Oman’s only rail system, only 550 metres in length and then you alight and walk through an airlock doorway into the cave. The pathway is about 800 metres and takes you around in a loop. The whole area is lit with theatrical lighting and closed circuit televisions keep watch of the goings on!
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Al Hamra |
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Located at the foot of the Hajar Mountains, en route to Oman’s tallest mountain, Jebel Shams, lies the oldest village in Oman, Al Hamra.
The village has a modern part and an older part. It’s the older part of the village that retains its ancient, quiet beauty, with a well preserved row of two and three storied houses built of mud and brick. There is an old Souq though most old shops are closed now, because the shopkeepers moved to the newer town. There are many abandoned houses in the upper part of the village providing a glimpse of life before three decades, since the new Al Hamra could be about three decades old only.
From Al Hamra you can access Misfat Al Abreeyen, a picturesque village strapped onto the mountainside, set in a terraced sequence. The stone houses that make up the village seem to be draped in date palms creating a picture perfect landscape.
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Wahiba sands |
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Great Wahiba sands are longitudinal dunes 200 km long and 100 km wide running south from the Eastern Hajars to
the Arabian Sea. The dunes are 100-150 metres high in shades of colour from orange to hues of amber. Bedouin
camps can be found along the tracks and trails in this isolated desert. In sporadic areas can be found stands of singlespecies
woodlands. Where the sands meet the ocean, outcrops of aolianite (sand compressed into rock) can be found
displaying unusual and attractive abstract shapes. Here the beaches mellow into soft shades of yellows and whites.
To the west of the Wahiba of the small towns of Rawdah, Samad Ash Shan, Al Akdar and Lizq. Rawdah and Samad
Ash Shan contain ruins and reconstructions of old forts while Al Akdar is the home of Omanis pit weavers who
design elegant textiles from their looms dug into the ground. At Lizq can be found remains of structures that date
back to Bronze Age. South of Lizq are the prosperous towns of Al Mudaybi and Sinaw where you can find almost
every day the bustling Bedouin souq at the centre of town. |
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Wadi Bani Khalid |
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Wadi Bani Khalid is a wadi about 203 km from Muscat, Oman. It is the best-known wadi of the Sharqiyah region.
Its stream maintains a constant flow of water throughout the year. Large pools of water and boulders are scattered
along the course of the wadi. As a geographical area, Wadi Bani Khalid covers a large swathe of low land and
mountains.
Caves form some of the interesting features of this wadi. These include Kahf Maqal which is one of the Sultanates
underground chambers. However, reaching this cave takes a lot of effort and visitors should be prepared for the
adventure. Springs of water are also common in this wadi. The springs of Ain Hamouda, Ain al Sarooj and Ain
Dawwa, among others, are a blessing to the eye as one ventures along the wadis. The village of Badaa is a wellknown
tourist stop in the valley. |
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Nakhl Fort & the Ain Al Thowra Hot Springs |
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About 125 kilometers off the Batinah coast lies the picturesque town of Nakhl, which means date palms.
As you enter Nakhl, standing as a sentinel is Nakhl Fort, one of the most imposing of Oman s many forts. Believed to have been built on pre Islamic foundations and partially renovated by Imam Said bin Sultan in 1834, the Fort stands on a rocky prominence 200 metres above the plains, providing commanding views of the Batinah plains around.
The Fort has many features; gaps for scalding date honey to be poured through to offset intruders, a falaj to sustain the inmates during attacks, spiked wooden and metal inlaid doors to thwart enemy intrusion, but the most defining feature that sets the Fort apart from other forts is perhaps the Majlis, a seating area on the uppermost level, perhaps used as a resting place.
Couple of kilometers away is the Ain Al Thowra Hot Springs, which flows out of a wadi and disappears into the nearby date plantations through a falaj channel. The spring is a highly important source of water for the locals since it irrigates about 90% of the surrounding land. |
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Barka |
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Barka lies on the Batinah coast and is best known for bull butting, a sport where bulls are set nose to nose against each other and each bull pushes and shoves the other. Apparently the animals are not hurt by this sport. These Brahmin bulls are raised by local farmers especially for this sport and bull butting rotates between villages around Barka on selected weekends. It is not an occasion based or weekly sport and for those interested in watching this exciting sport will need to fancy your luck!
Barka also has a couple of forts, Bait A’ Numan, a restored merchant house and a lively Souq. More interestingly, Barka is known for the production of `halva’ , a local sweet concoction, made of sugar, dates, saffron, cardamom, almonds, nutmeg and rosewater, laboriously and continuously stirred in huge copper vats, till the concoction achieves its glutinous and sticky state.
Apart from the halvah and bull butting, Barka’s other points of interest are the camel breeding farm where one can see 100’s of Omani thoroughbred camels and the Ostrich farm.
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Damaniyat Islands |
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The Damaniyat Islands is a group of 9 islands that form a chain 20 kilometers wide from east to west, lying 16 kilometers from the Batinah coast. The Islands and the surrounding corals have been designation by the government of Oman as a National Nature Reserve.
With depths of 40 metres and visibility between 10 – 30 metres, these islands are excellent diving and snorkeling areas. The north sides of the Islands has rock faces and shelves and are ideal diving areas and the leeward southern side has beautiful, colorful corals, apart from sightings of fusiliers, clown fish, stingray, moray eels and barracuda and therefore ideal for snorkeling.
The islands are also the nesting place for the hawksbill turtle and migratory birds are also found here.
Permits are required for all diving or snorkeling excursions and should be done only with supervision of experienced divers.
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Jebel Akhdar |
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Often used as a misnomer to mean a specific place, Jebel Akhdar refers to a mountain range that encompasses the entire Saiq plateau, located 2000 metres above sea level on the Western Hajar Mountains.
The main town of Saiq is located on the lower plateau. Due to the high altitude and moist atmosphere, the region is ideal for agriculture and farming. With temperatures that fall below zero in winter and with more precipitation than the rest of Oman, the villages in the region are blessed with greenery and vegetation, perhaps why these mountains are called the `Green Mountains’.
Up atop the plateau, terraced farms can be seen resting beside valleys and wadis. With an ideal climate for fruit growing, the area has many orchards with pomegranates, apricot, peach and walnut.
The area is also renowned across Oman for cultivation of roses and the production of rosewater. In the village of Al Ayn, pretty terraced farms grow the pink, many petalled Jebel Akhdar Rose. For hundreds of years, these villages have cultivated the rose plant to make rosewater, attar in Arabic, used to sprinkle guest’s hands after dinner from slender, long snouted silver vessels.
These mountain areas are ideal places for hikers also. There are plenty of great walking routes and the hike from village of Aqur to Seeq is worth exploring, especially in spring, when the roses are in full bloom.
Until recently, visitors needed permission to go up the Saiq plateau. Even today, there is a check post, en route the steep climb, for two reasons perhaps, one to ensure that only 4WD vehicles are allowed up the steep route and two, perhaps as a reminder of restrictive rules once put in place due to the fierce fighting that took place here during the Jebel wars.
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Jebel Shams |
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Oman’s tallest mountain, Jebel Shams or the mountain of the sun, stands 3075 metres above sea level and lies towards the northern end of the Jebel Akhdar Range.
From atop Jebel Shams one can view Wadi Nakhr below, known as the Grand Canyon of Arabia; vertical steep, cliffs drop down precipitously, from the summit of Jebel Shams to 1000 metres or more below. The spectacular Wadi Nakhr could be accessed directly by road through Wadi Ghul but a 4WD vehicle is a must. From atop the summit at Jebel Shams, you could view the spectacular gorge, more clearly, by taking a walk along the rim to the village of Al Khateem. For those less adventurous, the Grand Canyon of Arabia can be viewed from the edge of the summit itself.
Atop the summit, carpet sellers are many and weaving carpets is a local industry. Men and women participate in making these lovely carpets and you would most definitely be cajoled into buying one of these local creations.
There are many camping spots in and around the area and with temperatures cool and pleasant, Jebel Shams is a welcome getaway from the dust and heat of the plains.
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Wadi Shab |
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Wadi Shab is a wadi in Oman that is located between the capital Muscat and the town of Sur, Oman. More
precisely it lies in Niyabat Tiwi, wilayat (province) of Sur, and is 26 km from Qurayyat. It is easy to reach this wadi
from the Qurayyat-Sur highway. The wadi combines the attractions of coastal areas and inland wonders. It has at
least seven pools of emerald green water and is studded with dramatic boulders. One of the pools is in a cave where
light streams in dramatically from above and there are fantastic echoes heard when one swims in it. |
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The Musandam Mountains |
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Rugged mountains rise over Khasab town rising upto 2,000 meters and provide superb opportunities to explore on a 4WD safari meeting local people living unchanged lifestyles along the way. The most famous of the mountains, Jebel Harim, literally means Mountain of Women.
The 12 km drive from the coast to Jebel Harim is spectacular. A graded road leads you up passing through limestone formations to reach Sayh plateau, verdant green in winter and dried brown in summer, the farmers here cultivate wheat and alfalfa and farm sheep, goats and palm groves. Finally the road reaches the summit marked by a telecom tower. Here in the mountains resides the Shihuh tribe, living in houses cut out of rock clefts on the steep mountainside. Believed to have come from Yemen, this distinctive tribe also wears an axe called jerz, similar to and slowly being replaced by the khanjar, Oman’s traditional dagger!
The mountain area of Jebel Harim is known for Bait al Qufl or House of the Lock. Built to keep safe possessions when unoccupied during summer, these stone houses have no windows and wooden roofs and have a sunken floor, usually a meter below ground with raised platform for beds. These houses are sealed with a complex lock ensuring safety and these buildings can be seen here in the mountains.
The Rawdah Bowl, another great place to visit is a beautiful depression with pre Islamic tombs made from yellow and grey sandstone etched with pictographs. The Bowl also has a few `house of locks’.
A destination in its own right, Musandam and Khasab is easily accessible from Muscat by flight and also by the newly launched ferry service.
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Masirah |
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Masirah is the largest island off the east coast of Oman on the Arabian Sea. 63 kms long 12 to 15 kilometers wide, in parallel to the Bar al Hickman peninsula and 19 kilometers away from mainland Oman. The highest point on the Island is the Jebel Himur, a flat topped mountain rising just 275 metres above sea level.
Its early history is made up of legend. Supposedly inhabited by a tribe called the Bahriya and wiped out completely, the only remains left are their quaint tombstones at Safa’iq. Quaint because the graves with two rocks indicate males buried below and a single rock denoted a female grave. The earliest mention of Masirah is in the personal log called Serepsis of Alexander the Greats admiral, Nearchos, between 321 and 324 AD, as one of the many possible trading ports for Greece. During the Second World War, Masirah Island was an important air force base for the British RAF and that continues today with the Omani Airforce having an air force base on the northern end of the Island.
Masirah is typical desert island with a rocky interior, yet it is a naturalist’s paradise. Known to be the only place on Earth for the rare shell Eloise, Masirah has an incredible variety of shells. Masirah is also internationally renowned for its turtles. About thirty thousand loggerhead turtles come to nest in its beaches making it the world’s largest nesting area for the species. Hawksbill, Olive Ridley and the endangered Green turtle also use the island as a nesting place.
Perhaps, with hardly a couple of hotels, what makes this island so fascinating is its remoteness and a place to see nature raw and real. Masirah accordingly is a great camping place with lots of empty beaches as long as you keep away from the nesting turtles. |
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Bat & Al Ayn |
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Designated as an UNESCO World Heritage site, Bat is the site of the `beehive tombs’. Along with Al Ayn and Al-Khutm, the area has `the most complete collection of settlements and necropolises of the 3rd millennium BC.’ These funeral tombs are notable also because they represent the legacy of human settlements of the Bronze Age.
These stone structures, in the form of a beehive, are believed to be constructed between the period, 2000 BC to 3000 BC, during the Hafit and Umm an Nar period in Oman’s ancient history. The entire hilltop around Bat has these tombs and it is believed that these tombs were built to protect the remains of about 200 people.
Al Ayn lies about 30 kms off and although there are more tombs in Bat, the better preserved tombs are in Al Ayn.
To reach Bat you need to turn from Ibri, the capital of Al – Dhahirah region, a modern town. Visitors, starting from Muscat, would need to go through Nizwa and Bahla towards Buraimi to reach Ibri. Bat lies about 25 kms away from Ibri.
Similar tombs are also found in Gaylah, near Wadi Khabbah, atop the hilltop date back to the period of the Umm an Nar period between 2000 BC to 2700 BC.
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Ibra & Al Mansfah |
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Known as the gateway to the East, more particularly the Sharqiyah region, Ibra was once a very prosperous town. Situated on the caravan route between the interior and Sur, the town consists of Sufalat Ibra and Aylat Ibra. In between, and beside the wadi, lies the once prosperous but now abandoned village of Al Mansfah.
During the time of Oman’s colonization of Zanzibar, the wealthy merchants of Al Mansfah, notably members of the Al Harthy tribe, set sail for Zanzibar abandoning the village of Al Mansfah. Here, at Al Mansfah, you can see the once majestic residences, built of mud and unbaked brick, rising beside narrow alleyways, a once bustling, pretty Souq and also evidences of a falaj.
Ibra also has a lively Thursday Souq with vendors plying vegetables, khanjars and even firearms. More interesting though is the only exclusive Women’s only Souq in Oman, which is reserved for women buyers and vendors. The Women’s only Souq opens only on Wednesdays and is a must visit.
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Khasab & Musandam |
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The governorate of Musandam, a peninsula bordered by the United Arab Emirates, and situated on the southern side of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and cut away from the rest of the Sultanate, is a land of lagoons, khors, fjords, steep craggy mountains, and an indigenous culture.
The governorate’s largest settlement and capital, Khasab, which means `fertility’ is where from you explore the Musandam peninsula. A small, lively city with an interesting Souq and Khasab Fort, Khasab also has a harbor which still plays an important role as it has done since the 17th century. Khasab Fort, dating from the 17th century was occupied by the Portuguese then as a supply base for its maritime operations. In a bid to preserve the fort that was for years washed by the saline Arabian seawater, there is a recently constructed levee, which keeps the waves away and perhaps provides longevity to the Fort.
Khasab is also the starting point for cruises across the Musandam khors on a dhow, traditional wooden boats stitched together and made without using a single nail.
The people of the region include the Shihuh tribe and the Kumzaris of the north and the Souq at Khasab is a rendezvous of various cultures including Iranians who trade with the locals, perhaps because it’s nearer to Iran by sea than to Muscat by any means of transport!
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Ras Al Jinz |
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Located on the eastern point of Oman, at the headland of the Arabian Peninsula near Ras Al Hadd, Ras Al Jinz is a nature reserve, a protected area for the endangered Green turtle that comes to nest in the pristine beaches here.
A huge number of turtles flock here especially in July, the peak season though turtles can be seen in reasonable number between September to February. Thanks to government protection visitors to the beach are prohibited and turtle watching visits are allowed in the nights and at dawn with only a torch to avoid disturbing the nesting turtles.
The best places to stay near to Ras Al Jinz are the nearby towns of Ras Al Hadd or the port of Sur, both of which are at ideal distances, both perfectly accessible for the after dinner turtle watch trek to the beach at Ras Al Jinz. |
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Salalah |
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Salalah lies in Dhofar, the southernmost of the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
Separated geographically by the sand of the Wahiba desert, Omans second city presents a topographically distinct and different picture, more akin to Omans former territory of Zanzibar, with its palm fringed beaches, a laid back atmosphere and a many ethnic culture. Every year the south west monsoon blankets southern India and Salalah together, bringing a constant drizzle, transforming the heat beaten land into a green oasis, perhaps the peninsulas most verdant area.
Historically, Salalah was Frankincenses largest producer and the centre of the famed incense used for worship since ancient times. Trade was then centered around this highly valued incense and cities have sprung up and disappeared, namely Ubar known as the Atlantis of the Sands lost almost completely, is today an archeological site near the town of Shisr.
There are many interesting sites to visit in and around Salalah.
Al Baleed is an archeological site, the ruins of a 12th century port that once traded in frankincense with India in exchange for spices. For visitors there is a park and a museum containing information about Frankincense.
Khawr Rouri, which lies between Salalah and Mirbat on the coast, was once about 2000 years ago one of the most important ports of the entire peninsula. The lagoon or Khawr was once filled with merchant vessels and ships transporting Frankincense to the far corners of the earth. The estuary that flows into Khor Rori begins at Wadi Darbat. The Jibbalis, a unique ethnic group that follows Judaism, speaking a distinct language, perhaps the oldest of the Semitic languages, live around this area, during the summer months.
Above Khor Rouri are the ruins of Sumharam, thought to date back to the 3rd millennium BC, where one can find inscriptions mentioning the kings of the Yemeni Hadhramaut dynasty. Once a great port, apparently widened during the rule of the Hadhramaut dynasty, Sumharam used to trade with Egypt, Greece and Italy. It is believed that the Queen of Sheba transported jars of Frankincense to King Solomon through this legendary port.
The castle of Taqah lies further south from Khor Rouri and is believed to have been the palace of the legendary Queen of Sheba of biblical fame.
The town of Mirbat is an interesting visit, about 70 kms away from Salalah, with its interesting merchant houses and the Bin Ali Tomb. Another must visit tomb around Salalah belongs to the legend of Prophet Job who is believed to have been buried here, about 30 kms northwest of Salalah. Today the Tomb is visited by both Muslims and Christians.
Topographical marvels to visit while at Salalah are Mughsail, a spectacular bay, at the end of which below the cliffs you can see `blowholes. Visit also the Tawi Attair, one of the largest sinkholes in the world lying en route to Jebel Samhan. If you continue to drive upwards to the summit of Jebel Samhan you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the plains below.
Salalah is also the port of entry for Oman to the famed sand desert Rub Al Khali or the Empty Quarter, the largest desert in the world, measuring 1000 kilometers in length and 500 kilometers in width, lying to its extreme west and about a few hundred kilometers away. This enormous land of sand spans four countries, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen and the UAE and has temperatures between 0 and 60 degrees.
With all its history, legends and sheer beauty, Salalah remains the peninsulas own summer resort, a place to escape to when the heat of the summer months around the peninsula become unbearable. |
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Sur |
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Sur lies near the easternmost tip of the Sultanate about 300 kilometers south of Muscat and has a history of being an ancient boat building city. The Arabic word Sur means fortified area and Sur boasts of forts and castles namely, the Bilad Sur Castle, the Sunaysilah Castle and the renovated Al Hamooda Fort.
The Bilad Sur Castle, a 200 year old castle with unusually shaped towers added to the defense of the port. The older Sunaysilah Castle set on a rocky outcrop has four round towers and was also constructed to defend the port , a necessary fortification to keep away intrusions to protect the highly valuable port. The Al Hamooda Fort is in Ayjah, the older part of town and has characteristics of the merchant houses of the area.
Surs claim to fame though lies in its being once the centre of the local boat building industry. The traditional boats, Dhows, were made at Sur. These boats were stitched together without a single nail and though the industry has declined, one can still see old dhows being repaired near its lagoon beside Ayjah.
Sur is also a great place to stay and visit the nearby wadis and the Turtle beach at Ras Al Jinz. |
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