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Oman |
Capital: Muscat
Official Language: Arabic
Currency: Omani Rial
The Sultanate of Oman is a beautiful country in Southwest Asia with extensive coastline stretching along the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Gulf. The country is bounded by United Arab Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in the west and Yemen in the southwest. Oman is a place of great tourist attraction where modernity is perfectly blended with antiquity and traditions. Sky touching high rises with vibrant shopping malls; restaurants and water sports facilities attract today's modern tourists. Others interested in exploring the historical riches of the country can visualize numerous ancient towns and monuments littered in various places of the country. Plethora of mosques situated in every nook and corner of the country bring out the love for Islamic religion of the Omanis.
Major Cities
Muscat is the capital city of Oman. Other major cities are Salalah, Sohar,Nizwa and Sur.
Muscat in the Mintaqah area with tree lined streets parks is the cultural and commercial center of Oman. Mutrah and Ruwi are the major districts of Muscat. Mutrah in the north west of Muscat is a port area. The city of Salalah, lies in southern Oman in the province of Dhofar. Famed for its fragrances and natural beauty the city is a popular tourist destination. The lush green countryside with the majestic al Qar mountain, frankincense trees offers a magical picturesque vista. The beaches facilitate great adventure sports like snorkeling and scuba diving. Salalah is also renowned for its various antique sites like ruins of Queen Sheba's Palace and the shelter of the biblical prophet Job. Sohar in the Al Batinah region of Oman is said to be the birthplace of Sindbad the sailor. It attracts the tourists for its stunning natural beauty and numerous archaeological sites. The city boasts of the tallest mountain in Oman, Jebel Akhdar or Green Mountain. There are many gullies in Sohar namely Wadi Hibi, Wadi Ahin and Wadi Al-Jizzi. Nizwa locatd in the center of Oman was the ancient capital of Oman. The city is picturesque with palm-fringed beaches. The city prides of many historic buildings and forts. The old and new souks or markets offer excellent shopping opportunities. Sur is a capital city of Ash Sharqiyah Region in the north east of Oman. It was a major port city renowned for ship building in the early times. The vessels were used in sea faring trades mainly between Oman, East Africa, and India.
Tourist Attractions
Three forts namely Mutrah Fort, Jalali and Mirani forts are the main centers of attraction in Muscat. The Oman Museum, in the Medinat Qaboos, west of Muscat, is an embodiment of the rich cultural heritage of the country. The National Museum in Ruwi exhibits exquisite Oman silverworks. There are some beautiful beaches to loll on in Muscat. Qurum Beach, Bandar Al-Jissah and Yeti are popular among them. Nabi Ayoub Tomb and the Tomb of Prophet Omran are some remarkable historical sites in the city of Salalah. Sohar Castle is a place of grand tourist attraction to those visiting Sohar. The magnificent Nizwa fort in the Nizwa city is a place worth to visit. Tanuf waterfalls in Tanuf and the Jebal Akhdar mountains are favorite tourist spots for their spectacular natural beauty. The palm oasis on Wadi Valley is also worth watching. Two interesting location for Al-Hamra visitors, are Al-Mesfah and Jabal Shams. The oasis city Buraimi is famous for its spices and palm products. Musandam, Ibra and Khasab are marvelous scenic spots. The Sur Maritime Museum exhibits the historical details of shipbuilding in the town. A replica of Sindbad's boat is palced in the Al-Bustan.
Transport and Accommodtaion
Seeb International Airport located in Muscat is the major airport of Oman. Gulf Air and Oman Air, offers flights to several destinations of Middle East, India and East Africa. Moreover Gulf Air also flies to selected destinations in Europe, Great Britain, North Africa and East Asia. Other airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, Kuwait Airways, Air India and Thai Airways fly through Seeb International Airport. Muscat and other major cities have well paved streets. There isn't any rail network in the country. Luxury air conditioned buses are operated by Oman National Transport Company. The buses cover destinations like Nizwa, Bahla, Ibri, Dhank, Yanqui, Ibra, Sohar, Shinas, Buraimi, Fahud, Dubai, Abudhabi and Salalah. Baiza buses are relatively inexpensive traveling major as well as minor spots. Colour-coded orange-and-white taxis and rental cars are other popular modes of transport. The prices are low but the fares should be negotiated while booking. There are good hotels and tourist lodges in the major cities of Oman. The Chedi Muscat, Shangri La's Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Grand Hyatt Muscat, Radisson SAS Hotel, Crowne Plaza Muscat and Sheraton Oman Hotel are some renowned hotels of Oman.
Precautions
Though there isn't any record of major violence and crime in Oman some trivial street crimes are prevalent in the crowded as well as remote areas. Visitors should take normal precautions while traveling. The handbags should be protected and other valuables and currencies should be locked in the hotel rooms.
For further details and information on Oman and its tourist destinations flip through the pages of Allwonderscountries
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