Sultanate of Oman - day 3 - Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Royal Opera House, Muttrah Fort

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

Sunday 5th January:   

We started our day visiting the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in Oman and the only one which non-Muslims are allowed to enter. 

Visiting hours for non-Muslims are from 8am to 11am from Saturday to Thursday, and closed all day on Fridays.

The mosque with the Hajar mountains in the background beyond the marble arches. 

Visitors were directed to one area to get a head covering or rent an abaya in case they didn't have the appropriate clothes which covered knees and shoulders. 

Men and women need to have their knees and shoulders covered, wear loose-fitting clothing and women must cover their head. Karina and I had scarves that we put over our heads. Then we took our shoes off, stored them into cubicles and joined an English tour guide for an expensive 5 omr =20 aud per person.

The mosque was completed in 2001 and is a stunning building, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture, surrounded by beautiful manicured gardens, its interior richly decorated with calligraphy and arabesques. Everything is spotlessly clean and shiny.

Built over 6 years from 1995 to 2001, it occupies 416,000 sq metres, with a central dome 50mt diameter and 34 mt high, one of the largest in the world. Built by artisans from various countries, it used 300 thousand tons of Indian sandstone.

It has the capacity for up to 20,000 worshippers including the main prayer hall, the women's prayer hall, outer paved ground and interior courtyard.

There are 5 minarets around the mosque, the tallest reaching 91,5mt, the other four 45mt, symbolizing the five pillars of Islam.

In the main prayer hall, a massive continuous hand-woven carpet covers an area of 4,263 sq mt (about 60x70mt), the second biggest hand-woven carpet in the world (first one is in Mecca). It took 600 weavers from Iran, 4 years to complete. It weighs 21 tons and is valued at 5,5 million euros.  

The prayer hall also boasts a central chandelier, 14mt high, 8 mt wide Swarovski chandelier adorned with 600,000 crystals, weighing 8 tons, and illuminated by 1122 bulbs. Smaller chandeliers hang on the edge of the prayer hall. Its value also runs into the millions...

The central dome, made from 14,000 tons of marble, rises majestically above the prayer hall, drawing visitors’ gazes upward.

The mihrab, a niche in the wall which indicates the direction of Mecca and thus the direction of prayer, is very tall and decorated all over with soothing colours.

Standing in front of the mihrab

The beautifully manicured gardens surrounding the mosque

                                       

Before leaving the grounds, visitors were encouraged to go past to the Information Centre to have a complimentary cup of coffee and dates and to pick up information pamphlets in various languages or to have a chat with one of the guides.

We decided to go past and while Karina and Jose enjoyed a coffee and I tried a variety of sweet dates, one of the guides asked us where we were from and if we had questions. I asked him about the dress code for Islamic women, the colours they use (in Qatar married women tended to wear black and wore face coverings, in Oman I saw a lot of women wearing colourful abayas and no face coverings). He said that Islam does not require women to specifically wear black, it's a matter of choice probably to better cover their body shape, and also that no face cover is required (niqab or burqa), it's a matter of choice, just a head cover in the mosque. The focus is on modesty, both for men and women.

Royal Opera House

A 10 minute taxi ride delivered us to the Royal Opera House. 

Built on the order of Sultan Qaboos (former ruler of Oman) a fan of classical music and arts, it was officially opened in October 2011 after a building time of 3 years.

It's opened to the public from Saturday to Thursday 8,30am to 5,30pm with an entry fee of 3,15 OMR per adult (Aud13,20).

                                      

Built with similar materials to the ones used in the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the interior pays homage to Omani palaces and temples, with Italian marble and Austrian crystal chandeliers, and hand painted decorations on wooden surfaces.

                                       

The red and gold theater hall seats 1,100 guests and was designed as a flexible space to adapt to different events. The stage is adjustable and the concert hall shell can be moved on rails to blend with the auditorium halls to create the format of a traditional theatre. Screens on the backs of the seats display subtitles in multiple languages for international guests.

Karina was saying that she would like to return to Oman with Thomas and they would endeavour to see a play or concert at the Opera House.

                         

The side entrance of the Opera House where the Sultan and royal family enter

Next door there is a sophisticated shopping centre, with prices to match - Opera Galleria.  We just looked at a couple of windows and left. Didn't take photos.

Muttrah Fish Market and Aroos Al Bahar Fish Restaurant

Lunch time looming and we caught a taxi to the Muttrah seafront. We first visited the modern looking Muttrah Fish Market. It had closed at 1pm, but next to it was the fruit and vegetable market and mini-markets and we wandered through it admiring the different varieties we don't get in Australia.

Across the street, we had lunch at Aroos Al Bahar Fish Restaurant. A simple restaurant, where you can choose the quantity of fresh fish, squid, prawns, etc, choose the side dishes, pay and then it gets cooked for you. There was seating inside, but we chose to seat in the courtyard.

The food was good and fresh, service was quick, but we ordered far too much!

The food we ordered - fish, prawns, squid (top right)

Starters (always the amazing dips!), prawns and fish, squid a plate of chips

Muttrah Fort

Luckily we could walk off the extra calories, to the Muttrah Fort, just over 1km away.

            

Blue mosque on the way to the fort

Fort seen from the fish market

#Muttrah fort

The fort sits on the hills of Al Hajar mountains overlooking the Muttrah harbour, the "Sultan Qaboos Port".

It's thought to have been built in 1507AD, but modified and upgraded with towers and stronger walls by the Portuguese, during their occupation of Oman from 1507 to 1656. It is a small fort as its main function was for observation and defensive weapons. It just stretches along the hill with vantage points over the Muttrah corniche, harbour and rocky mountains surrounding the city.

We climbed about 250 steps (counted it then, but forgot!), well maintained and with a handrail, and there are various levels where you can rest and enjoy different views.

                                      

A stop at the Fort Cafe just before going up to the tower

                                   

A worthwhile climb for the views over the city and harbour

The fish market in the distance, the Sultan's yacht in the harbour

View of the corniche and just below a roundabout full of flowers

Another tower in another part of the mountain seen from the fort

                                
Coming down from the fort...

Jose and Karina going down from the fort

Karina at the Muttrah sign with the fort above at sunset

Muscat Plaza Hotel

Back to the hotel and Karina and I still had time for a quick dip in the hotel pool on the top floor of the hotel. Jose wasn't feeling too well - too much of the strong coffee or too much food... so he stayed in bed resting.

The hotel pool and view from the top of the hotel over the suburb and mountains

Dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel

Karina felt like having a glass of wine with a nice meal, and because alcohol can only be sold in hotels and certain restaurants, we decided to take a taxi to have dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, just 3,5km away. 

Jose only ate a soup, I had a prawn curry and Karina had Nasi Goreng. Dessert was cheesecake and tiramisu.

Maybe because we already got to the hotel at 9pm, but not many people were in the hotel restaurant. The food was good, service was 5 stars, we basically had 1 waiter just for us. The room looked a bit dark and outdated, I noticed it was next to the pool, so used as the breakfast room/buffet room.

To avoid paying for a premium taxi (because of the 5 star hotel), when we left the hotel we walked a few hundred metres down the road and then Karina ordered a taxi to take us to our hotel.

Also joining Tom with his Signs meme. Please check his blog here.

Monday Mural - Whale Shark

I love murals and street art. If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme is for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  Once you start looking you will find murals everywhere.  The "Monday Mural" meme goes live on Monday at 12,01AM, Perth,Western Australian time. Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters. Looking forward to your mural finds this week.  Thanks Sami 

Murals from our walk around Katara Cultural Village in Doha, Qatar, from our trip to Doha in December 2024.

This impressive whale shark mural by Argentine artist Martin Ron - "Ocean in the sky" - is located in Building 41.

Described as one of the best muralists in the world, Ron has to his credit two iconic murals both in Katara Cultural Village – a figure of the Oryx and the Whale Shark.

This mural raises awareness of the importance of protecting the marine environment from the dangers of pollution, with the whale shark ascending to the surface of the sea where it is confronted by plastic bags.

 

Sultanate of Oman - Day 2 - National Museum of Oman, Souq, Muscat Flower Festival

Joining Tom for his "signs" meme.

National Museum of Oman.

Saturday 4th January - After breakfast, we took a taxi to the Old Muscat area where the Sultan's ceremonial palace - Qasr al-Alam Palace - stands opposite the National Museum. 

The palace was commissioned by Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who died in January 2020, was erected between the two 16th century Portuguese forts of Al Mirani and Al Jalali and completed in 1972. It has a unique facade of blue and gold columns and even though the grounds are off-limits, the public can take photos near the gates. The surrounding gardens are beautifully manicured and the palace is in a beautiful setting between the mountains and the sea.

One of the forts above the Sultan's palace

Karina and Jose in front of the ornate blue and gold gate

Across the extensive roundabout is the National Museum of Oman. The very modern museum was established in 2013, and showcases the nation's heritage from the earliest human settlement in the Oman Peninsula about 2 million years ago to the present day. 

National Museum of Oman

We loved our visit, the museum had a lot of interesting exhibits, it was a great cultural experience.

                                         

Wooden carved doors

An illuminated maquette of the area where the Palace and Museum are located

                     

Maquettes a few of forts around Oman

In 1998 a shipwreck was discovered off the coast of Oman, which is believed to be the "Esmeralda", a ship from Vasco da Gama's second voyage to India (year 1502/3).

The excavation of the shipwreck took place between 2013 and 2015 and over 2800 artifacts were found at the wreck site included coins, navigational instruments, etc, which helped determine the nationality and date of the wreckage.

Cruzados (gold coins) issued by King Dom Manuel I, minted in Lisbon c.900-907

and a bronze Sodré Astrolabe, c.1496/1500 the oldest known astrolabe in the world. It measures 17,5cm in diameter and features the Portuguese royal coat of arms (armillary sphere), a personal emblem of the King of Portugal. Astrolabes were used to measure the altitude of the sun and stars in order to determine geographical latitude.

Cruzados (coins), bronze bell and astrolabe

Model of a Portuguese Caravel (1,1mt) made by Carlos Montalvao - a replica of the "Berrio" from Vasco da Gama's first fleet to India, which sailed from Lisbon on the 8th July 1497 and returned on 10th July 1499 with the news of the discovery of the India Route. This caravele was among the first European ships encountered by Omani merchants in East Africa.

A bronze Falconet cannon from Macau (1052/3), made by Manuel Tavares Bocarro, richly decorated with acanthus leaves on the muzzle and barrel and handles designed to resemble Chinese style lions. The words "Viva el rei dom Joao 4" (Long live King John IV) are inscribed on the breech of the cannon.

Antique gold ornaments and 2 old Bibles

                  

The frankincense tree (Boswellia sacra) is a tree native to the Arabian Peninsula (Oman, Yemen) and Somalia in Africa. It produces a resinous dried sap, that when harvested can be used for incense, essential oils and perfume - quite popular in Oman. 

After our visit we decided to enjoy a slow walk along the corniche, until we reached the Souq (market) about 4km away.

But first we stopped at a small eatery - Karak Baba Jan - where we sat outside. The owner/cook wasn't too well versed in English, but we managed to order a few snacks. We had ordered a salad too and we saw him run across the road to the mini-market to buy lettuce. Later someone from the supermarket left a frozen chicken on the verandah (probably ordered before).

When it came to pay, he only accepted cash, but Karina only had big notes and he had no change, so off he goes again across the road to get change...

Another Western couple only had a card to pay with, and they eventually offered to pay in American dollars which the proprietor accepted.

Anyway we had a few giggles there.

               

The small restaurant where we stopped for lunch

Home-made chicken nuggets, chicken wraps, mint and lime juice

From the restaurant: view of Al-Mirani fort rebuilt by the Portuguese in 1587

We carried our walk in the corniche to the Muttrah area, past the Muscat Gate. There is a small free Museum located here on the fortress walls on Al Saidiya street, which we didn't visit. (with exhibits about Muscat's ancient wells, souqs, mosques, harbours and forts).

A nice mosque near the old gate

Along the corniche appeared a strange structure - Riyam Censer - built on top of Riyam Park hill, this gigantic incense burner was built to celebrate Oman's 20th National day in 1990.

Along the way we also found lots of marble statues with sea animals

The sun was setting and we were nearing the heart of the Muttrah (sea port and commercial centre of Muscat).

A huge yacht - Al Said - in the Sultan Qaboos Port was indicated to us as belonging to the Sultan of Oman. In 2008 when it was finished it was the second largest in the world!

Sultan's yacht

The Muttrah Fort came into view. An historic fort on the hills overlooking the harbour. We visited it another day.

Muttrah fort

Muttrah Souq

We entered the souq (market) just for a quick look around and to buy some fridge magnets. Just like in Qatar, it was clean and we didn't get hassled to buy anything. 

Muttrah's souq is the oldest marketplace in Oman.

After our visit we caught a taxi to the hotel, so we could put on warmer clothes to go out again, this time to visit the Muscat Flower Festival.

A funny sign in a shop outside the souq : Take the shop (rent me)

Muscat Flower Festival

I had read somewhere about the Muscat Flower Festival, at Qurum Natural Park, and I'm glad we visited this exhibition as it was beautiful, with flowers, food, entertainment and drone shows. It runs for a month from about the end of December to the end of January. The taxi driver dropped us by the main gate and we joined the short queue to buy the entry tickets.

A huge variety of stunning flower displays...

Th flag of Oman in flowers

                                     

In between the flower exhibitions, we stopped for dinner.

Shot sign, food area, our fresh juices

While we sat enjoying our dinner, the fabulous drone show started just above us.

More entertainment with dancers from other countries.

I love Oman sign

And it was time to go back to the hotel via another entrance and more flowers...

                                 

Exiting the park

What an amazing exhibition!

FOR day 1 - check this link: 

https://sami-colourfulworld.blogspot.com/2025/04/sultanate-of-oman-day-1.html