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We traveled to Muscat, Oman in 2006.

Muscat 01 07 Ruwi Early Morning View From Sheraton Room A few kilometres inland from Muscat and Mutrah is Ruwi, the capital's modern commercial district. Ruwi is surrounded by rocky mountains and has beautiful scenery. Here is a daytime view of Ruwi from our Sheraton room window.

Muscat 01 07 Ruwi Early Morning View From Sheraton Room

Muscat 02 Muscat 01 Long View The tiny gated city of Muscat is cradled in a natural harbour surrounded by a jagged spine of hills and now home of the sultan's main palace. The first foreign presence in Muscat was the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who landed in Oman on his way to India. The Portuguese returned in 1507 to sack and capture Muscat, but were defeated in 1649. Here’s a view of Muscat as we drove in, with the fort on the left, and the Sultan’s Palace in the centre.

Muscat 02 Muscat 01 Long View

Muscat 02 Muscat 07 Al Jalali Fort The forts of Jalali and Mirani were constructed by the Portuguese in the 1580s on hills commanding a view of the city from the seaward side as well as overlooking the old harbour. Al-Jalali Fort, also known as the east fort, was built by the Portuguese to strengthen their defenses.

Muscat 02 Muscat 07 Al Jalali Fort

Muscat 03 Mutrah 12 Corniche Just After Sunset Mutrah is especially beautiful at night with the lights reflecting off the water and the white facades of the old merchants' houses that front the promenade.

Muscat 03 Mutrah 12 Corniche Just After Sunset

Muscat 04 Grand Mosque 01 Full View Outside The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is the third largest in the world, built between 1995 and 2001 from 300,000 tons of Indian sandstone. The complex is 1000m long and 885m wide. The most visible part of a mosque is the minaret, the tower from which the call to prayer is broadcast five times a day. There are four 45.5m minarets on the corners and a big central one of 91.5m, the five minarets symbolizing the five pillars of Islam.

Muscat 04 Grand Mosque 01 Full View Outside

Muscat 04 Grand Mosque 06 Large Persian Carpet The main prayer hall has the largest carpet in the world, a 70m x 60m Persian carpet that took 600 women four years to weave. On the back wall is the mihrab, a niche in the wall facing Mecca. To the right of the mihrab is the minbar, a pulpit chair dating from the Prophet Mohammed’s time. The `imam', the one who leads the prayer, delivers the `khutba', the Friday sermon, which can deal with religious, social and political subjects.

Muscat 04 Grand Mosque 06 Large Persian Carpet

Muscat 05 Al Bustan 03 Outside View Of Hotel Opened in 1985, the Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat hotel has built a reputation as one of the best hotels in the Middle East and one of the finest hotels in the world. Situated eight kilometres from the downtown business district, the hotel is nestled on the coast surrounded by a dramatic mountain backdrop, sea and beach, and set in 200 acres of lush, green gardens. It enjoys spectacular views over the Gulf of Oman.

Muscat 05 Al Bustan 03 Outside View Of Hotel

Muscat 06 Nizwa 04 Round Tower Outside The 17C Nizwa Fort served for 300 years as a palace, prison and seat of government. Its great, round, golden tower, the biggest in Oman, dates from 1649.

Muscat 06 Nizwa 04 Round Tower Outside

Muscat 07 01 Misfah View From Across Valley Misfah is an incredible village of ancient houses and narrow streets perched in a valley amidst the mountains and date palms, 10km from Al Hamra.

Muscat 07 01 Misfah View From Across Valley

Muscat 07 11 Jebel Shams Canyon Looking Down Jebel Shams is the second deepest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in the USA. We walked to the canyon rim and stared over the 2km vertical drop to the bottom of the canyon.

Muscat 07 11 Jebel Shams Canyon Looking Down