Joanna James
Doha, the capital of Qatar, is rapidly becoming a popular tourist destination. With many modern, cultural and historic attractions, Doha offers its visitors many fun things to do.
The Doha Corniche is probably one of the liveliest landmarks in the city of Doha. This large esplanade, which overlooks the ocean on one side and offers a glorious view of the Doha skyline from another side, is always a buzz with activity. With many locals and tourists visiting the Corniche to jog, work out, cycle, or just take a casual stroll, there is hardly a dull moment here. The Corniche is, therefore, a great place to visit in the evening and mingle with the locals, and a great place to take some memorable pictures.
The Al Maha Sanctuary, more commonly known as the Oryx Sanctuary, is one of the few sanctuaries in the world dedicated to the fostering and nurturing of the Arabian Oryx, an endangered species that is also regarded as the national symbol of Qatar. This vast sanctuary is home to over 1000 oryxes, and is one of the few places in the world that you can visit to learn more about the fascinating and intriguing Arabian Oryx. The Al Maha Sanctuary is so popular that many top Doha hotels, including the likes of the Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, encourage their patrons to visit it.
No shopping experience in Doha is complete without a visit to Souq Waqif. Although souqs are generally regarded as being traditional markets, the Souq Waqif isn't exactly a traditional market as its popularity amongst the locals and tourists over the years has transformed it into a more modern shopping arcade. With thousands of stalls selling handmade clothes, footwear, traditional Qatari handicrafts, spices, handmade jewelry, and spices, the shopping experience at this thriving souq is truly unparalleled. Souq Waqif also has its own pet area, where animals are sold as pets, and an art area, which has some of the latest works of art by local artists.
Doha is home to many forts. Given the history of bandit attacks and invasions in the 15th and 16th Centuries, many of the rulers of those times established many forts in present day Doha. One of the most popular forts is Al Zubra Fort which is also a museum that showcases many priceless artifacts and relics of Qatar's history. The Doha Fort, known for its remarkable architecture, also houses a rare collection of artifacts and items of great historic importance. Al Wajba Fort and the Barzan towers are also well worth visiting.
Doha is the hub of Qatar's culture and heritage, and successive Qatari State officials have taken great measures to preserve and display the proud heritage and culture of Qatar and its people. Thus, the city of Doha is known for being home to many amazing museums and other cultural attractions. Among the most recommendable cultural attractions in Doha are the Qatar National Museum and Aquarium, the Museum of Islamic Arts, Islamic Culture Center, and the Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art.
If you are planning on going to a destination where you can engage in all kinds of sports, Doha is the ideal destination for you, With many facilities where you can engage in water sports, beach sports, camel racing, golf, horse riding, football, fishing and even go-karting, you can be assured of having plenty of fun while engaging in your favorite sports!
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
