So, you are all set for a vacation and have even checked out Muscat flight options? Before that, you need to find out what are the things you can do while in that city? There are many sights to visit, from museums to markets and malls, but here’s a small list of things to do before you book tickets on one of those Muscat flights.
A sense of history: There are many museums and forts that give you a sense of a time gone by. Visit the Al Alam Palace, or the Muscat Bay, which is a photographer’s delight. The Al Alam Palace was built in the 70s. Then, there are forts such as Jalali or Mirani, which were built in the 16th century. All these have a rich past to them – full of Portuguese influences. You can also visit the Bait Al Zubair museum, which has treasures belonging to the Al Zubair family. There’s also the National Museum, which houses treasures belonging to the sultans of Oman.
You could also visit Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, which has a prayer hall that can hold as many as 20,000 people. The hall is a must-see while you are in Oman.
Water sports: Oman has many beaches, from the Qurum to Al Qantab beach. You can take part in a range of water sports, from swimming, snorkelling, surfing to shell collecting in the many beaches. Al Sawadi Beach also offers speedboat rides, water scooters, etc. You can also participate in turtle and dolphin watching at one of these beaches.
Festivals: If you visit Muscat between January and February, you can enjoy the Muscat Festival, where traditional Omani lifestyle is put on display. You can watch dances and enjoy the music as well.
Scents of Arabia: Ancient Arabia was known for its perfumeries, and you can still catch more than a whiff of that ancient past at the Amouage, a perfume factory in Muscat. Visitors can take a tour of this perfume factory which was set up in the 80s, and watch how all the ingredients are merged to form the final scent. The place is home to a wide range of scents, which are hard to find anywhere else in the world.
Food for thought: If all this is not enough, you can enjoy Muscat’s food extravaganza by feasting on the breads, hummus, kebabs, shuwa (lamb dish) followed by exotic coffees.
Souq hopping: While you are in Muscat, you have to shop at the city’s souqs, which are traditional marketplaces where you can find all kinds of souvenirs to carry back home. If you love shopping and take great delight in traditional knick-knacks, book your tickets on one of the many flights to Muscat right away! The Muttrah Souq is one of the oldest such traditional marketplaces, and you can buy silver, daggers, telescopes, perfumes and frankincense here. This market is located in the Corniche area, which is also a great place to while away time. Apart from the souqs are the huge malls, which have some of the best brands on display.
Reji Thomas
