Joanna James
Planning on visiting the Middle East for your next vacation? Think of travelling to Salalah, an extremely picturesque city in Oman, which is also the capital city of Dhofar Province. This city, with its mosque, museum, and scenic beach galore offers plenty to see and do for its visitors.
Museum of the Frankincense Land – it sounds pretty exotic, doesn't it? If you're not familiar with the three kings from Orient who came to see baby Jesus at Christmas, you'd probably know that one of the gifts that they brought is frankincense; it is an aromatic resin that is used in incense and perfume in the Middle East and you could buy it off the market if you want to. Now, this strange-sounding museum is located close to Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara and it will educate you about all aspects of this aromatic product – including its history!
No visit to Salalah is quite complete without paying a visit to Al Mughsail Beach, which is hailed as one of the best Oman attractions. You will be missing out on something precious as this beach offers some of the most splendid vistas worthy of a picture postcard. Swimming is not recommended at this beach; however, you can enjoy a shallow dip while enjoying the magnificent views around. Do make sure that you keep out of the waters during the rainy season as the surfs can get particularly strong and rough.
Although the castle you may find at Taqah is not quite as gigantic as the fort in Nizwa, this historical site is considered as one of the must-visit places in Salalah. Although Taqah Castle dates back to the 19th century, even today, one may notice that it towers over its surroundings in its well-preserved state. The castle has been restored for tourism purposes with a fully-furnished interior and visitors are provided with interactive video displays and other exhibits that offer a peek into the history and culture of the region.
One of the world's largest sinkholes can be seen in Oman – the Tawi Ateer Sinkhole! This extraordinary creation of nature was not discovered until 1997 when chance brought a group of Slovenian explorers near it. It is not the only natural wonder in the region; just near the top of the sinkhole, one may also see the Teeq Cave, which is yet another unique attraction of the region. It is deemed as unwise to attempt to explore the sinkhole by oneself due to its risky terrain. Those who are with a fear of heights may need to think twice before visiting this place.
Salalah may have its fair share of flea markets and souvenir shops but do remember to take some time off to check out Salalah Garden Mall, which is built incorporating superb architecture, of which you simply must snap a picture! This is Salalah's only mall and you can look forward to shopping for everything under one roof; from perfumes and jewellery to antiques and branded clothing, you will be faced with a huge array of selections when you shop here.
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