www.bahrainthismonth.com June 2013 73 The land of frankincense Known as the perfume capital of Arabia and the attar capital of Oman, Salalah is a popular tourist destination due to the abundance of frankincense trees that line the city’s oases. Dhofar is especially known for this and boasts a heritage site called Wadi Dawkah Frankincense Reserve. For a small fee, you can visit The Museum of the Frankincense Land connected to Al-Baleed Archaeological Park, which has many exhibits that tell you about the history of the area. Al-Husn Souq has a section that specialises in frankincense, other kinds of incense, oils and perfumes. Another section sells traditional Omani textiles. There are large numbers of tailors’ shops here as well as a few simple restaurants. Not far from the souq is a selection of sweet shops. If you’re looking for souvenirs, this is the time to fetch some. Practise your bargaining skills. In search of history Al-Baleed Archaeological Park is one of the most interesting places to visit in the Salalah area. It is the site of the ancient port city of Zafar. The earliest settlement here dates back to around 2,000 BC, in the Bronze Age. It grew throughout the Iron Age, and you can still see the remains of a house from this period. The site covers an area of 64 hectares and there is a broad pathway, measuring 2.2km, which enables visitors to walk past all of the major structures, including the City Wall, Citadel and Grand Mosque. Salalah Museum is the cultural centre of Salalah and has on display the Al Musnad writings, ancient scriptures and coins dating back to 11th century, pottery from the Middle Ages, traditional irrigation tools and manuscripts. Taqah Castle, a nineteenth century adobe fort was originally the residence of the governor, but it now houses a museum. There are several decorated rooms and you can climb to the roof to see views of the surrounding area. Sumhuram was an important trading port between the 4th century BC and the 4th century AD. Today it is an impressive archaeological site with a beautiful location on a hill, overlooking Khor Ruri and the sea. There are extensive stone walls as well as a temple, residential area, storehouses and gateway to the harbour. Birdwatchers’ haven The region is one of the best bird watching areas in the Middle East. Good locations include just about anywhere in the Dhofar Mountains, Mughsayl Bay and the ains (springs) and khors (creeks) to the east of Salalah. Khor Ruri or Khawr Rouri is a creek just to the east of Taqah. Here the water and reed beds attract a lot of birds, making it a bird watching hotspot. In fact, nearly 200 species of bird have been recorded here. The creek was once the site of a frankincense port and on a hill, overlooking it, is the important archaeological site of Sumhuram. Another scenic location of natural springs is Ain Homran. Seven different species of eagles have been identified here. The scenic route Wadi Darbat is a natural park with majestic views of waterfalls, lakes, mountains, caves, wildlife and lush green vegetation. There is a 100-metre waterfall and many cave chambers with stalactites and stalagmites. The caves were used by the shepherds as shelter and one can see coloured paintings of animals on the walls. At the end of it, there is a cave which is considered to be the largest natural one in Oman. In khareef season, nomads camp at the bottom of the valley while the camel herds graze on the lush pastures. You can often see white storks feeding as well. Mughsayl Bay has one of the most beautiful beaches in Oman. It’s a good spot for beach activities and bird watching. Stretching for four kilometres, this is a magnificent sandy beach outlined by sculptured cliffs and blowholes formed in the limestone rocks, where plumes of water can reach a height of over 30 meters. At high tide, the sea bursts dramatically through the rock slabs jutting out from the cliffs revealing many blowholes, the largest of which are covered with metal grids. Al Marneef Cave is the highlight of this area; it’s a shame if you miss it. The view along the coast where the mountains meet the sea is spectacular. The nearby Khawr Mughsayl is home to flamingos, pelicans and storks. Ayn Razat is a beautiful spring located between the mountains. A trip to the seaside town of Mirbat is advised. You will love the local culture and little historical sites that are scattered across the town. Visit the harbour and the market on weekends; we hear their camel meat is the best. In peak season, they serve delicious feasts as well. You can also watch people collect oysters on the beach or visit the castle. Magnetic Mountain, often referred to as Gravity Point, is on the way towards Mirbat. This is one of those places you need to see to believe. The idea is, once you reach there, your car will automatically start moving and may catch speeds of up to 50km/hr. It’s a place that defies gravity. Although hard to spot on a map, this is perhaps the most popular tourist location. Oman Air flies almost daily to Salalah and also offers two limited holiday packages for five-star getaways. View from Marneef Cave Wadi Darbat Birdwatcher's Haven Frankincense
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