Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Turn right at Samak roundabout OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP , which means 'The Fish' in Ar-
abic and is decorated with a pair of generic pisces. Call into nearby Bait al-Baranda ( Click here ) and learn
about the history of Muscat's relationship with the sea and the origin of the city's name, meaning 'safe anchor-
age'. Return to the corniche and head towards the fort. Cast your eye out to sea: His Majesty's Dhow is generally
harboured here, cruise ships dock by the harbour master and the ferry to Musandam sits proudly in its own berth.
Inland, the merchants' houses of the Lawataya people, who built their fortunes on the seafaring trade, sport bal-
conies that allow the inhabitants a nostalgic glance across the Arabian Ocean.
Turn into Mutrah Souq ( Click here ), where items such as handmade models of silver dhows and ship
chandlery are on sale; this souq grew from seaborne cargo and to this day many of the wares (Indian spices and
textiles, Egyptian plastic, Iranian crafts and Chinese toys) are shipped in by sea. Ward off scurvy with a fruit juice
at Al-Ahli Coffeeshop ( Click here ) in the heart of the souq. Return to the corniche and turn right towards
16th-century Mutrah Fort ( Click here ), built by the Portuguese who were unwittingly led to Muscat by the
kindness of Ahmed bin Majid, a famous sailor from Sohar.
At the goldfish monument and fountains , a heron often snacks in view of the royal yacht and the visit-
ing navies of other nations. Continue towards the giant incense burner; Oman's former prosperity was built on
Dhofar frankincense, which left the shores of Oman with other precious cargo such as Arabian horses.
On reaching Al-Riyam Park ( Click here ) you could, with stout shoes, head back to Mutrah on the Min-
istry of Tourism's walking route C38, past panoramic views. Alternatively, continue along the corniche to the
watchtower ( Click here ) and scan for dolphins - some real and some carved from marble.
After a rest at Kalbuh Bay Park ( Click here ) cut inland via Al-Bahri Rd and enter the 'city proper' via
Muscat Gate Museum ( Click here ) . Every night until the 1970s the doors to the city were locked at this
point, keeping tradition in and those from the interior out.
Turn right towards Sidab on Al-Saidiya St and visit Bayt al-Zubair ( Click here ) for photographs showing
the sea's influence on Muscat. Buy a souvenir of your tour in
Bait Muzna Gallery ( Click here ) opposite.
Continue along Al-Saidiya St, still heading for Sidab. Pause for fried fish at Muscat Light Restaurant &
Coffeeshop ( Click here ) on the corner before turning right along an avenue of date palms.
At the roundabout, march left through the colonnade towards the grand front entrance of the Sultan's
Palace ( Click here ). Follow the palace walls left, past beautiful gardens and mature trees (a favourite roost of
myna birds) on Qasr al-Alam St.
At the junction, you can turn left for the Omani-French Museum ( Click here ) and a display on shipbuild-
ing, or right for Muscat Harbour. The Portuguese built forts, such as Al-Mirani ( Click here ), towering to the
left, and Al-Jalali ( Click here , across the bay), to protect their maritime interests. Look across the harbour for a
graffiti log book etched into the promontory rocks, left by the visiting navies of Great Britain and other countries.
This is a good place to admire the back garden of the palace and imagine the spectacle of the military banquets
held annually here, complete with ice sculptures on the lawn, a band on each of the surrounding forts, lights from
Oman's fully-rigged tall ship moored in the harbour for the occasion, and fireworks mirrored in the calm waters
of the bay.
Turn left at the harbour wall, and duck under the tunnel before the modern naval base. Turn right under the
old city gate onto Bab al-Muthaib St. This soon runs into Al-Bahri Rd - and from here, it's an easy taxi ride back
to Mutrah.
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