Here’s What You Shouldn’t Miss If You Have 24 Hours In Muscat

Set in a modern context with traditional houses, well-kept winding roads and low-lying buildings Oman’s capital city Muscat, is a rich blend of culture and heritage. In Muscat, modernity walks hand in hand with tradition, lending a unique flavour to the city and mesmerising visitors with its authenticity, natural beauty and rustic adventure terrain. One has the option to visit some of the exquisite mosques, forts, well-stacked museums, or simply take a stroll at the beaches. Muscat is not only a history lover’s destination; it is also a gourmand’s favorite haunt and is well-known for its authentic hospitality. We tell you what not to miss in Muscat if you have just 24 hours to explore the city:

EXPERIENCE ARCHITECTURAL GRANDEUR AT THE SULTAN QABOOS GRAND MOSQUE

 

 

 

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The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, lavishly decorated, is a real feast for all. The mosque with its archways, courtyards, chandeliers, ornate doors, white marble floors and manicured lawns is an architectural marvel. A sense of calm takes over once inside the mosque. The elegantly carved arches lead to the courtyard which leads to the main prayer hall. The hall is entirely decorated in white, blue and gold and has the floor covered with handmade Persian carpet (that took 4 years to be made and weighs 21 tonnes).Adding to the magnificence of the mosque is a crystal chandelier (which has 1,122 lights) hanging from the dome.

EXPLORE THE MARINE BIODIVERSITY AND MIDDLE EAST’S LARGEST AQUARIUM

 

 

 

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Oman is a sailor’s delight as it houses several world class yachts, cruises and a stunning marina. The port capital, Muscat, offers various coastal tours including deep sea sailing and a spellbinding experience of watching dolphins jump in the air acrobatically. Apart from that if you are a professional diver; there are delightful dive centers for one to experience the beautiful marine life. You can book one of the available tours and dive in (quite literally) to get a firsthand experience.Apart from that, one can experiencearound 1000 types of Omani fish and 30,000 marine animals including sharks, lobsters, turtles, local corals amongst the others in a mall (you read that right). Built inside the Mall of Muscat, the aquarium is first of its kind in Oman and the largest in the Middle East covering 8,000 sq. m of the mall and spanning three floors. The main tank has a walk-through tunnel for visitors to get an up-close and personal look at the variety of fishes inside.

EXPLORE OMANI ART AND CULTURE AND LUXURY SCENTS

 

 

 

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One can witness the cultural heritage in abundance in Muscat. The historical forts and castles of Oman are the country’s most striking cultural landmarks and a major draw for visitors today. Whether it’s the gates of the Sultan’s ceremonial Al Alam Palace or the Bait Al Zubair Museum, one can get an insight into Omani life through these places. To refresh your olfactory senses with something exotic, we suggest you head to Amouage factory where the most valued perfumes in the world are found.  Amouage is a home-grown perfume brand that uses exotic ingredients like frankincense, roses, saffron and spices to make their trademark scent. You have the opportunity to take a tour of the factory during which you can understand the perfume production process.

MARVEL AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE IN MUSCAT

 

 

 

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A state-of-the-art opera house exists in Muscat letting the lovers of music explore the realm. World class operas and musicians perform at the Opera round the year. The opera house complex consists of a concert theatre, auditorium, formal landscaped gardens, luxury restaurants and an art centre for musical, theatrical and operatic productions.

LEISURE AROUND THE PRISTINE BEACHES

 

 

 

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While the city has a heavy cultural influence, a part of is also laid back with beaches and clear waters. If one is looking for a populated beach we pick the Qurum beach, which also has a line up of cafes and shops around it. Apart from that, there are other beaches located within the vicinity of the city that are secluded and offer you an air of tranquility around.  We suggest Pebble beach, Qantab beach, Khalauf Beach and Khasab Port depending upon where one wishes to drive, depending upon the time one has.

How To Get There: Direct flights from major Indian cities operate on a daily basis to Muscat. In order to obtain a tourist visa, one needs to apply online which takes roughly about ten minutes. The validity of a visa depends on what has been issued and can range between one month to one year.