Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the building and enjoy window shopping in the adjacent Opera Galleria arcade. Call the
box office to check the availability of tours.
Natural History Museum
MUSEUM
OFFLINE MAP
( 24 641374; Way 3413; adult/child 500/100 baisa; 8am-1.30pm Sat-Wed, 9am-1pm Thu)
The Ministry of
National Heritage houses the small but lovely Natural History Museum. The museum is a
must for anyone interested in the local flora and fauna, and there are some excellent dis-
plays on Oman's geography and geology, together with information about environmental
protection.
TOP OF CHAPTER
1
Al-Ghubrah
& Ghala
Grand Mosque
MOSQUE
OFFLINE MAP
(Sultan Qaboos St; non-Muslims 8-11am Sat-Thu)
This glorious piece of modern Islamic architec-
ture was a gift to the nation from Sultan Qaboos to mark the 30th year of his reign.
Quietly imposing from the outside, the main prayer hall is breathtakingly rich. The Persi-
an carpet alone measures 70m by 60m wide, making it the second-largest hand-loomed
Iranian carpet in the world; it took 600 women four years to weave. The mosque can ac-
commodate 20,000 worshippers, including 750 women in a private
musalla
(prayer hall).
Children under 10 are not permitted. It's important to dress modestly when visiting. See
Click here
for more information.
Al-Ghubrah and Ghala lie some 8km west of Al-Khuwair. If you are visiting the
mosque from Muscat in the summer, it's easier to take a taxi (OR5) rather than catch the
bus: it is a hot walk crossing the highway via the overpass. Plenty of buses bound for
Ruwi stop outside the mosque.
