Muscat Governorate is considered the pulsating heart of Oman. It is linked to Port Sultan Qaboos by Muttrah Corniche where the visitor to Muscat can view the wonderful variety of nature: golden beaches, mountainous heights, and golden sand dunes.
Perhaps what is striking about Muscat Governorate and its states is the breathtaking intermingling of ancient cultural heritage and modern style. You will see houses, gates, old markets, small shops, and winding roads redolent of authentic history, side by side with modern markets, shops, buildings, and streets stamped with modern architecture. This allows Oman to preserve its historic character, and at the same time enjoying its contemporary spirit. Muscat is renowned as one of the cleanest Arab capitals and has gained the honor of winning the Cleanest Arab City Contest several consecutive times.
Around Muscat
- Bawshar Sands:
Not far from the beaches of Muscat with its harmonious architecture, and within walking distance of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in the heart of the capital, the visitor will find golden hills packed with drivers who enjoy sand-duning with their SUVs, or those who enjoy gliding on the sand bikes that are easy to rent in this area.
- Al Bustan Beach:
Located in the Governorate of Muscat, Al Bustan Palace Hotel sprawls over the beach and overlooks the mountains that intertwine with the hotel’s sands and beaches. These mountains lend the beach an unsurpassed sense of privacy.
- Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque:
Close to the road leading to the heart of the capital Muscat stands the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Wilayat (district) Bawshar, like a radiant lighthouse attracting its visitors to interact with the spirit of Islam as a religion, science, and civilization. This mosque highlights its role as a scientific and intellectual source of knowledge across the Islamic world.
- Old Muscat Gates:
Comprise three main doors: Bab Al Mathaib, Bab Al Kabeer (The Big Door) and Bab Al Sagheer (The Little Door). Bab Al Mathaib is located in the western corner, below the Al Mirani Fort, and Bab Al Kabeer is located at the end of the western side of the walls and serves as the entrance to most roads leading to suburban Muscat and Mutrah City. Bab Al Sagheer lies in the mid-southern side and is considered one of the city’s main entrances.
- Mutrah Souq:
Every place has its distinctive flavor and every city has a market that relates its stories, embraces its history and accompanies its evolution. If you enjoy visiting public markets, you must see Mutrah Souq, the most beautiful market your eyes will ever see! Mutrah Souq is one of the oldest markets in Oman, dating back about two hundred years. Its antiquity has perhaps increased the extent of its beauty, magic, and allure.
- Mutrah Corniche:
This is near one of the most important ports in Oman, Port Sultan Qaboos in the heart of the capital Muscat. It overlooks beautiful mountainous rocky formations and is one of the most gorgeous sites in the Governorate of Muscat, ideal for picnics, watching the sea and admiring ancient buildings.
- Al Qurm Beach:
This beach lies in AlQurm Area in the heart of Muscat and extends over a large area. A number of large hotel chains are built next to it, such as Hotel Muscat InterContinental and Crowne Plaza. This beach is considered one of the busiest in Muscat due to its location near shopping centers and restaurants. Walking enthusiasts can enjoy the boardwalk along the beach and then rest on the numerous chairs and umbrellas that dot the beach.
- Riyam view:
Looking at the seas of the Gulf of Oman here it is hard to imagine this was once the scene of geologically earth shattering events. 90 million years ago, a several kilometer thick slabs of the oceanic crust slowly started to push its way over the top of Oman’s coastline. This unusual over thrusting or abduction continued for around 20 Million years, pushing rocks originating from deep within the ocean onto Oman’s crustal plate. The rugged ophiolite hills around Muscat and those stretching hundreds of kilometers inland are legacy of this. It is the largest and best-exposed fragment of oceanic lithosphere found on land in the world. It includes extensive exposure of an almost complete section of oceanic crust and uppermost mantle (around 500 km long, and up to 80 km wide).