I recently had the opportunity to visit Muscat and what a treat it turned out to be. I’ve never seen so many colours of life exiting in the same place at the same time. In Muscat it seems like the present has come to a standstill and the future is creeping up on it, while the past refuses to leave. It is a place where the hot sun rises over the towering mountains and burns itself out each day to sink into the depths of the ocean.
The various pieces of ancient architecture in the city simply took our breath away, even as the happening nightlife kept us energised way into the late hours. From luxurious Middle Eastern lounges to great food, from silently guarding gates to amazing museums, from gardens and mosques to hills and beaches, Muscat had it all! We landed in Muscat with a plan to stay only for a couple of days, but the city literally has so much to offer that we ended up extending our stay by several days.
Although it is difficult to point out the best, my favourite sightseeing places were the Al Jalali and Al Mirani Forts, at least among the historical locations. The fort stands by the harbour on the mountain and looks like a brooding sentinel that still continues to keep a watch over the city. Both forts were built during the Portuguese rule and modified several times over the course of history. Tourists are not allowed inside the forts since they are used by the army. However, considering the view from outside and the mixed architecture, they are still worth a visit.
We also visited the Al Alam Royal Palace in Muscat. The palace is truly a magnificent work of art with its walls and columns built in such a way that they reflect the setting sun and the blue sea. Besides palaces and forts, Muscat also had some very attractive mosques. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is the third largest in the world and arguably the finest piece of architecture in the whole of Oman. It was completed in 2001 after almost nine years in construction. Due to the prevalent tourism industry of Oman, the mosque is open to non-Muslims on specific days. Although we did not know this at that time but were lucky enough to chance upon it on such a day.
Among the fun things we did while in Muscat, the highlight was the dolphin Boat trip in the Gulf of Oman. One can spend hours on the boats, sipping beverages and watching the dolphins chase each other in the open seas. One entire day we spent on the beaches, surrounded by swaying palm trees and a soothing breeze. The Qurum Beach is a popular tourist spot a little way outside Muscat, while the Bandar Al-Jissah is quite isolated and surrounded by steep rocks.
Although our preconception about Muscat was of a desert city, beaches were not the only thing which stood starkly out of this image. The city has an astounding array of gorgeous parks and gardens. After doing a little research we decided to visit the three biggest parks in Muscat, Riyam Park, Al Naseem Public Park and Quram Natural Park. While the Riyam Park has a stunning view of the ocean, the Al Naseem Park surprised us with an extensive library. I personally also loved the fountains and Rose Gardens of the Quram Natural Park.
Since Muscat is pretty big, we were initially quite confused about travelling. However, a simple search online gave us pretty great deals on Muscat car rentals. The facility is best suited for those who really wish to see as much of Muscat as they possibly can without having to stick to train or bus schedules.
The various pieces of ancient architecture in the city simply took our breath away, even as the happening nightlife kept us energised way into the late hours. From luxurious Middle Eastern lounges to great food, from silently guarding gates to amazing museums, from gardens and mosques to hills and beaches, Muscat had it all! We landed in Muscat with a plan to stay only for a couple of days, but the city literally has so much to offer that we ended up extending our stay by several days.
Although it is difficult to point out the best, my favourite sightseeing places were the Al Jalali and Al Mirani Forts, at least among the historical locations. The fort stands by the harbour on the mountain and looks like a brooding sentinel that still continues to keep a watch over the city. Both forts were built during the Portuguese rule and modified several times over the course of history. Tourists are not allowed inside the forts since they are used by the army. However, considering the view from outside and the mixed architecture, they are still worth a visit.
We also visited the Al Alam Royal Palace in Muscat. The palace is truly a magnificent work of art with its walls and columns built in such a way that they reflect the setting sun and the blue sea. Besides palaces and forts, Muscat also had some very attractive mosques. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is the third largest in the world and arguably the finest piece of architecture in the whole of Oman. It was completed in 2001 after almost nine years in construction. Due to the prevalent tourism industry of Oman, the mosque is open to non-Muslims on specific days. Although we did not know this at that time but were lucky enough to chance upon it on such a day.
Among the fun things we did while in Muscat, the highlight was the dolphin Boat trip in the Gulf of Oman. One can spend hours on the boats, sipping beverages and watching the dolphins chase each other in the open seas. One entire day we spent on the beaches, surrounded by swaying palm trees and a soothing breeze. The Qurum Beach is a popular tourist spot a little way outside Muscat, while the Bandar Al-Jissah is quite isolated and surrounded by steep rocks.
Although our preconception about Muscat was of a desert city, beaches were not the only thing which stood starkly out of this image. The city has an astounding array of gorgeous parks and gardens. After doing a little research we decided to visit the three biggest parks in Muscat, Riyam Park, Al Naseem Public Park and Quram Natural Park. While the Riyam Park has a stunning view of the ocean, the Al Naseem Park surprised us with an extensive library. I personally also loved the fountains and Rose Gardens of the Quram Natural Park.
Since Muscat is pretty big, we were initially quite confused about travelling. However, a simple search online gave us pretty great deals on Muscat car rentals. The facility is best suited for those who really wish to see as much of Muscat as they possibly can without having to stick to train or bus schedules.
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