Exploring The Treasures of Oman

Oman is one of the extremely picturesque countries with diverse natural beauty including the high mountains and dazzling waterfalls, huge dunes and appealing deserts, green oases and white-sand beaches. The country is way too different from the neighboring states of the gulf. The obvious contrast of the deserts and the sandy beaches, the rich marine life and the amazing possibilities of travelling, touring and just simply resting allow to call the state the best location for every traveller. The locals of the country are rather hospitable treating the guests in a proper manner.

The capital of the state is Muscat. The first two samples of colonial culture you come across here are the well-preserved Portuguese forts of the 6th century – Al-Mirani and Al-Jalali. Those served as the basis for the origination of the state. It’s one of the few cities, which has gates giving a chance to enjoy all of the charm of the Asian spirit. And all of this is enriched with the presence of the old buildings, narrow streets and mosques, including Sultan’s Palace. The latter is especially astonishing with its night view, but hurry to be close enough to the place by that time as the visitors simply occupy the territory to admire its beauty. Among the other sights of interest in Muscat one should also consider Oman National Museum, the Museum of Natural History, which tells about the flora and fauna, the Museum of Arms with its collection of ancient weapons. If bored with all of the cultural possibilities one must also try to test the skills of fishing on the coast nearby, or visit the old bazaar, known as Omani Khanjar with the offer of local handmade products made of both silver copper, decorative fabrics and wood.

Nizwa, which used to be one of the early capitals of the state, is a big city. Though it cannot compete with the capital with its economic and commercial capabilities and facilities, it still serves as such for the inner provinces. No surprise that it’s rich with cultural sites, but the addition of the natural beauty is another reason why it attracts travellers. Do not miss your chance to see the local castle made of gold and silver, located among the palm tree oasis.

UNESCO-protected site Bahla is known to be the best destination to visit for the archaeology spirited youngsters. The local fort wall, which takes 12-kilometers, is enlisted to be of monumental importance. There are also plenty of other things to see in the city, including the ancient palaces and the local pottery bazaars.

Once the largest settlement of the state, Sohar is known to be the birthplace for the Sinbad the Sailor. Currently it still preserved its status as an important port city. The main attraction of it is obviously the bazaar devoted to all kinds of products associated with sailors, that is fish, crafts and all sort of ship-associated products. The city has a fort with amazing 4-tiered walls and six towers. The sight is majestic, especially at night when all of this is covered with lights.

Salalah, is the capital of the southern region of Oman. It’s right in the middle of banana and coconut plantations. To make the image of this paradise even more appealing, one should state the presence of the long sandy beaches. The cultural of the city is imprinted on the ruins of the Queen of Sheba Palace and other historical sites. Moving from the city-based parts of the state one must remember the natural appeals of this amazing kingdom.

Being located at the height of over 3000 meter, Jebel Shams is the highest point of Oman. If translated the name will sound like Mountain of the Sun, though the temperature on its top is lower than zero causing regular snowfalls. The mountain is ideal for the fans of camping; it’s obviously great for viewing the entire surroundings, acting as the Great Canyon of Oman. If you find time then it’s also worth to make a visit to the local villages, where you can discover traditional hand-woven carpets, which are sold directly on the roads.