Old Muscat has a quaint charm about it with many forts, castles, mosques and
towers dotting the landscape.
Oman occupies the south-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. To the North, it borders the Strait of Hormuz, and to the East, the coastline stretches 1700 km along the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea to the Yemeni border. In the West, Oman borders Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates along the eastern fringe, the Rub Al Khali (also known as the ‘Empty Quarter’). The northern region of the Musandam Peninsula is separated from the rest of the country for 70 km by the UAE. The highest point in Oman is Jebel Shams at 3010 metres.
The most notable feature of Oman is the range of imposing mountains running North-West to South-East across the Northern part of the country.
Oman has a deep and rich culture that extends back for thousands of years, embracing such popular legends as the stories of Sinbad the sailor.(He is believed to hail from Sohar). Oman’s history goes back to the time of early civilization in the region known as the fertile crescent. Cuneiform writing on tablets from Mesopotamia mention a mountain, rich in copper in a land called Majan, which is believed to be somewhere near the modern day city of Sohar in Oman. Here copper has been mined for 3000 years.
Muscat, the capital city of Oman lies sparkling white, topped with golden minarets in the middle of a maze of brown pleated mountains reaching down to the Arabian Sea. Described as “Arabia’s jewel”, this city is a blend of the old and the new. Muscat is green as green can be, and defies being classified as part of a desert country. The roads are lined with well-manicured green lawns and trees. During winter, this is interspersed with a profusion of multi-coloured flowers. The city has steadfastly retained its old-world character. Old Muscat has a quaint charm about it with many forts, castles, mosques and towers dotting the landscape. Of particular note are Jalali and Mirani forts flanking Al Alam Palace. The Corniche, with its promenade and souqs (markets) is one of the highlights of the city. Greater Muscat boasts of high-rise business properties (but not too high), world-class highways, upscale suburbs rooted in traditional Islamic architecture, elegant mosques, large green parks, archaeological sites, museums and world-class hotels.
My travel diary would be incomplete without mentioning Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Work began on the construction of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque complex on a site by a main road between Muscat and Seeb, early in 1995. It was completed six years later and inaugurated by His Majesty, the Sultan in May 2001.
The Mosque complex (covering 40,000 square metres) is constructed on a raised podium in keeping with the tradition of Omani mosques that were built elevated from street level. It can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers and consists of a main prayer hall, ladies prayer hall, covered passageways, a meeting hall, and library.
The whole interior of the Grand Mosque is panelled with off-white and dark grey marble panelling clothed in cut tile work. Ceramic floral patterns adorn arch framed mural panels set in the marble, forming blind niches in a variety of classical Persian, predominantly Safavid, designs. The dome comprises a series of ornate, engraved stained glass triangles within a framework of marble columns, and a Swarovski crystal chandelier with gold-plated metalwork hangs down for a length of 14 meters.
A major feature of the main prayer hall is the hand-made Persian carpet consisting of 1,700 million knots, weighing 21 tonnes and made in a single piece measuring 70 x 60 metres.
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April 2008 |