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World Heritage Sites
The importance of Oman's natural and cultural sites has helped
the Sultanate to gain the special attention and interest of UNESCO,
through its International Heritage Preservation Programs, which
aims to categories and name all significant heritage sites worldwide,
both cultural and natural.
UNESCO has classified four major localities in the Sultanate:
• The Castle of Bahla, listed in 1987.
• Bat tombsThe, listed in 1988.
• The Frankincense Route
• Al-Blaid , listed in 2000
• Shasr, Khuwr Rori, listed in 2000
In July 2006 the UNESCO approved five falaj irrigation systems
on the World Heritage List. The origin of this system of irrigation
may date back 2000 years.
The five falaj approved by UNESCO on the World Heritage List:
• Falaj Daris
• Falaj Al-Khatmeen
• Falaj Al-Malki
• Falaj Al-Mayser
• Falaj Al-Jeilah
Castles & Forts
Bahla
Fort:
The first fort built
on this site was during the Nabhani period (830), and the second
during the reign of Imam Nasser bin Murshid Al Ya'arubi (1624).
The castle we see now is the result of development and renovation
during the reign of Imam Azan bin Qais Al-Bu Saidi (1868).
The unusual shape, ornate towers and impressive high wall, in
addition to its cultural value, qualified the Castle of Bahla
to be included by UNESCO on its list of World Heritage and Culture
in 1988. |
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Nizwa
Fort:
The design of the Castle reflects the considerable advances
made in the field of military fortifications and mortar-based
warfare during the era of Al-Ya'aribah. The main bulk of the
citadel took about 12 years to complete and was built over a
subterranean stream. The entrance of the castle opens into a
veritable maze of rooms, high-ceilinged halls, doorways, narrow
staircases, terraces, and corridors.
The most striking feature of the castle is its central tower,
complete with battlements, turrets, secret shafts, false doors
and wells, which measures a colossal 150 feet in diameter and
soars 115 feet above the rest of fortification. |
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Rustaq:
The castle incorporates an earlier structure
which was built in the 13th century, which was itself built
on the site of Persian ruins. The present structure is the result
of reconstruction by the first Imam of the Al-Ya'aruba dynasty
between 1624 and1649, when Rustaq was established as the capital
of a united Oman.
Falaj Al-Sa'eghi is channeled through the castle to provide
a supply of water. Other interesting features are rooms for
living, storage, and defence, Bayadha mosque and the tomb of
the late Imam, Sultan bin Seif. |
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Nakhl
Fort:
Nakhl Castle sits on top of a 200-metre
rocky prominence in the foothills of the Western Hajar Mountains,
overlooking the extensive palm groves which surround Nakhl.
The castle is believed to date from the pre-Islamic era, and
underwent significant renovation in the 9th and 16th centuries
during the reigns of Bani Kharous and the Al-Ya'aruba imams
respectively.
The castle also features a bridge and contains many rooms
for various uses, including the quarters of the Wali, a guard's
shelter and soldiers’ rooms. |
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Al-Mirani
Fort:
The fort was originally built in the early
16th century by the Portuguese, who used it as their major
headquarters during the 60 years of their occupation of Oman.
Towards the latter half of the century, they added more fortifications
and towers to the fort. In 1610 a dock was constructed at
the base of the fortification, equipped with a low-level battering
ram to repel attacks from passing ships. In 1650, Omani forces
expelled the Portuguese, and gradually rebuilt and strengthened
the fort into its present form.
Al-Jalali Fort:
The fort was originally built in the early
16th century by the Portuguese captain Melkior Calaca,
with more fortifications and towers being added towards the
latter half of the century. Upon its capture by Omani forces
in 1650, it was gradually strengthened and rebuilt into its
present form. |
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Museums
Bait Al-Zubair:
Opened in 1998, the museum occupies Al-Zubair House, which
was established by Sheikh Al-Zubair bin Ali in 1914. The museum
has a comprehensive and well-documented collection of traditional
artifacts including costumes, jewelry, household equipment
and weaponry from the past and the present. It covers many
aspects of Omani culture and customs in the various regions
of the country. |
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Armed
Force Museum:
The museum is located in Bait Al-Falaj Fort; the original
garrison headquarters for Sultan Said bin Sultan's Armed Forces.
The museum documents the military history of Oman through
displays of weaponry, uniforms, motor vehicles, defense systems
and detailed information on military conflicts throughout
Oman’s turbulent history. |
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Bit Al-Baranda:
The museum occupies a 19th century house in Muttrah called
Bai Al-Baranda (Veranda House). The name derives from the
distinctive feature of the veranda extending across the first
floor. Since its foundation, the building has undergone a
series of renovations before finally being converted to a
museum in October 2006.bulent history. |
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Natural
History Museum:
Opened in 20 December 1985, the museum exhibits Oman's flora
and fauna. Showcases display the country's indigenous species
set in their different habitats with a hall devoted to marine
species.
Planted in the botanical gardens adjacent to the museum are
highly scented shrubs which can be found throughout the Sultanate. |
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Archeological Sites
Qalhat:
Located in the Wilayat of Sur is the city of Qalhat. Built
on top of a hill overlooking the Gulf of Oman, Qalhat is said
to have once been a main trade centre and port for the export
of horses in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries and for
importing spices from India to be re-distributed inland and
abroad. Little remains to be seen apart from the mausoleum
of Bibi Maryam, a local lady of some importance. |
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| Bait
Al-Qufl:
bait al-qufl or 'house of the lock' is a form of architecture
unique to Musandam. It is a miniature stronghold built of
local stone used for storing supplies of grain, dates and
other items crucial to the survival of the household.
The roof is made from timbers of acacia, covered with a mixture
of earth and gravel with an edging of stone blocks.
Inside, the floor is about one metre below ground and there
are raised slabs for storing goods. Entry is difficult as
the heavy door extends to the sunken floor, opens inwards
and is deeply recessed. It is secured by an elaborate locking
system which gives the structure its name. |
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Bat
tombs:
One of the most important archaeological sites in Wilayat
Ibri, in Al-Dahirah region, is the tombs of Bat. Due to its
historical importance, the site has been listed by UNESCO
as an International Heritage Site.
A large number of tombs, dating from 3,000 BC are distributed
throughout a large area. The most accessible site can be found
near the village of Al Ain where about 20 tombs stand on a
ridge, with the sheer face of Jebel Misht rising behind them.
The bee-hive shaped dry-stone tombs are 3–6 metres tall
and have small entrances, most of which are not wide enough
to enter.
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Mosques
Grand Mosque:
Opened in May 2001, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is a splendid
architectural achievement. This serene building rises above
the surrounding area, its minarets standing tall against a background
of mountains in a landscape which is quintessentially Omani.
However, it is not just a triumph of architecture but symbolises
the faith of the Omani people and the supremacy of Islam in
the country.
The mosque is actually a complex consisting of an Islamic Studies
Centre, a 3-storey library with 20,000 volumes, a meeting and
conference hall to seat 300 people, in addition to two prayer
halls.
The main musalla (prayer hall) has been designed to hold over
6,500 worshippers, while the women's musalla can accommodate
750. The outer paved courtyard holds another 8,000 and there
is additional space in the interior courtyard and passageways,
making a total capacity of up to 20,000 worshippers.
The site covers an area of 416,000 square metres and the complex
is built over an area of around 40,000 square metres. The materials
and craftsmanship used were carefully researched and sourced
at origin. Modern designs and new interpretations were applied
to the classic design and details of the building. |
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Exterior:
Screens at the entrance which seem to be almost two-dimensional
give little hint of the spacious layout within. Three pathways
lead to the podium on which the complex is constructed. Behind
these are the courtyards of the entrance leading to the arcaded
Riwaqs.
The formal entrance courtyard sits on a cross axis with the
main minaret which rises to 91.5m high. To its east and west
are the 2 subsidiary courtyards. All three lead to the Sahn,
the open paved court surrounding the prayer halls, which covers
a total area of 24,400 square metres.
The northern and southern arcades (riwaqs) form the transitional
space separating the areas of worship from other facilities
and amenities |
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Interior:
Every architectural element of the interior combines various
features of traditional Islamic arts and crafts, employed
in a contemporary manner appropriate to the general style
of the mosque. The best examples can be seen in the design
and construction of the musalla's interior dome and prayer
carpet.
The inner walls of the main musalla are entirely faced in
off-white and dark grey marble, and are decorated with geometrically
patterned gilded murals in a predominantly Safavid style.
The walls are topped with wooden parapets of the type typically
found in Omani forts.
The open-plan hall has four main pillars which support the
inner structure of the Dome. In the northern and southern
walls are arcades that open on to the musalla, decorated with
embossed ornate arches in the Mamluk tradition.
The Mihrab (the niche facing Makkah) is deeply recessed in
the qiblah wall (the direction of Makkah) as an independent
work of art. The mihrab is framed by Quranic verses and is
outlined in twisted cable ceramic moulding, painted in gold.
Next to the mihrab is the recessed minbar alcove set in a
ceramic panel to the north and clad in marble panelling.
The interior Dome is assembled in segments between the marble
ribs and columns and inlaid with fine cut tiles. The ribs
emphasise the effect of a sphere.
A concealed complex steel support structure ties the inner
dome to the outer shell.
Above the openings on the side walls are stained glass windows
whose patterns and motifs complement the decorations on the
walls. |
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The
Carpet:
The carpet of the main musalla is a massive artistic project
and is a masterpiece of creativity, skill and logistics. Covering
the entire floor of the main musalla, the hand-made Persian
carpet measures over 70x60 meters, and covers an area of 4,263
square meters.
The carpet has 1,700 million knots and weighs 21 tons. It
took 4 years to produce: 15 months to finalise the designs
and prepare weaving materials and workshops, 27 months of
weaving and 5 months to finish, clean and trim the 58 pieces.
These were then joined and laid inside the main musalla by
expert weavers.
The carpet was woven in Nishabur near Mashhad, Khurassan in
Iran. 600 dedicated female weavers worked under the supervision
of 16 technical experts. The pile is in fine wool, and the
warp and weft in cotton yarn.
This intricate design of the carpet has brought together the
classical Tabriz, Kashan and Isfahan traditions. 28 colours
in varying shades were used, the majority of which were obtained
from traditional vegetable dyes. |
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| Lighting:
Lighting in the main musalla is achieved with chandeliers
made of Swarovski crystal and gilded metals. Specially designed
for the musalla,
35 chandeliers hang from the wood-panelled ceiling in the
outer bays surrounding the dome.The grand central chandelier
which hangs from the highest point of the dome, is 14 metres
high and 8 metres in diameter. It contains 1,122 lamps and
weighs eight tonnes. The 9 chandeliers in the women’s
musalla are in the Ottoman style and are made of Turkish crystal. |
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Natural Wonders
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| Majlis
Al-Jin Cave
Majlis Al-Jin Cave (Jinn spirits), the largest cave in the
Arab world and the third largest worldwide.
The cave is 340m long and 228m wide, with a height of 120m.
With an astonishing volume of 4 million m3, this vast area
is capable of containing 12 Boeing 747 jumbo planes!
The cave walls are entirely made of limestone, pierced by
several gravel water ducts. The only way in is by rope. |
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| Al-Hootah
Cave
Al-Hootah Cave is basically a 2.7km tunnel, running from north
to south across the Western Hajar Mountains. It comprises
an underground cavern and subterranean lake system.
In the main chamber of Al-Hootah Cave are some magnificent
cave formations, stalactites, stalagmites, and columns which
have formed over millions of years. These beautiful structures
are delicately coloured in shades of pink, yellow, gold and
beige.
The subterranean lake within the cave is home to unusual species
of aquatic creatures such as blind fish that sense their way
around the lake with feelers. The main lake within the cave
system is around 800m long. |
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Al-Jabel Al-Akhdar
At 2,980 m, Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar (Green
Mountain) is the highest peak in the Eastern Hajar mountains
and the second highest point in the Sultanate after Jabal Shams.
Temperature does not exceed 30 C° on the Jabal during summer,
while in winter it can plunge below 5 C°. The Jabal receives
an annual average of 303 mm of rainfall.
The higher planes of the Jabal are densely populated with lush
vegetations comprising fruit trees, flowers and shrubs, which
gives rise to the name. Communities such as Wadi Bani Habib,
Al-Shuraijah, Kotom Al-Hail, Al-Ain, and Saiq have clusters
of farms growing pomegranates, apricots, peaches, cherries and
walnuts.
Desert Rose, whose sweetly scented flowers are used in the making
of rose water, is unique to the Jabal. Primarily, its fragrance
is used to keep houses freshly scented, especially during festivities.
The fragrance is also used in the Omani coffee and halwa, and
in several traditional perfumers.
A great part of the Jabal consists of woodland, with Junipers
being the dominant species. Its leaves, soaked in locally made
massaging oils, are very effective for the treatment of muscular
pain and headache.
Springs are the main source of water supply for inhabitants,
with the entire breadth of the area being linked with a network
of aflaj. There are many ancient settlements in the Jabal, but
the stone hamlets in Dhan Al-Bisateen are the most popular. |
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Jabal Shams (Sun Mountain)
Oman’s highest peak,
at 3,009 metres above sea level, Jabal Shams or Sun Mountain
is located in the Wilayat of Al-Hamra.
The summit is unreachable by public road which ends at 2,000m.
A 4 wheel drive vehicle will take you to a plateau where you
can look down on a deep canyon. The mountain is cold in summer,
with some snowfall in winter.
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The Empty Quarter
The Empty Quarter is the largest desert
in the world. Measuring 1000km in length and 500km in width,
the desert spans four countries: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic
of Yemen.
To this day many parts of the Empty Quarter remain unexplored
and as its name suggests, stand empty, at least with respect
to human inhabitants. In the past camel caravans carrying frankincense
traveled along the edges of the Omani portion of the desert.
However, due to the increase in desertification over the past
millennium, this journey has been made very difficult for the
caravans and is no longer used. The Empty Quarter is considered
the world's richest oil-bearing area, and is home to the largest
oil field in the world. |
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Sharqiyah Sands
If a dream of a perfect desert with
a sea of undulating dunes stretching into the distance could
come true, it would still fall short of Sharqiyah Sands, formerly
Wahiba Sands. Spread over an area of 9,000km2, The Sands are
a major tourist attraction, catering for those who enjoy walking,
dune driving, sand-boarding or just taking in the splendid scenery.
A number of well maintained camps are in place around the Sands,
providing excellent services, including 4-wheel drive tours. |
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Khour Grama (Grama lagoon)
One of the largest lagoons in the Sultanate, covering more than
twelve square kilometers. It is almost a closed lake linked to the
sea by a tortuous channel which passes through a narrow corridor
of rocks which surround the creek on the north side. In the middle
of the creek are two rocks which form small islands, all rising
to about 40m above sea level. The southern part of the creek is
bordered by a sandy beach, but the largest area is covered by a
vast swamp of mud and silt. |
