Joanna James
From a laid-back pearling and fishing village at the beginning of the 20th century, Doha, the capital of Qatar is at present a populous and well-developed city attracting many visitors from all over the world. Read on to discover some of the favourite attractions you can enjoy during your visit.
An ancient landmark market at the waterfront of Doha, Souq Waqif is a hive of activity, colour and aromas that one must not miss. Though renovated a little over ten years ago, the authentic Qatari architecture has been preserved and can be witnessed as you wander around. Plan to spend many hours at this marketplace offering a variety of enticing goods such as colourful shawls, embroidered clothing, spices and herbs, authentic Qatari handicraft items and many more for you to take back for your loved ones. If you happen to be there in the evenings, as done by many guests from Doha hotels the processions and parades too can be witnessed. The dozens of restaurants tucked around the market can dish out enticing helpings of different cuisine to please visitors throughout the day.
Explore an oasis amidst the desert landscape by visiting this breathtakingly beautiful park. Secluded behind the famous shopping malls in the Aspire Zone, Villagio and Hyatt Plaza, this is a huge attraction with play areas for children, well-planned tracks for jogging, walking, cycling or an enjoyable picnic. Adding another dimension to the openness and lush green vistas is the lake resplendent with varieties of aquatic life. All this is enjoyed by many guests at Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara during their stay in Doha.
Majestically sitting on a hill overlooking the Qatar Sports Club, this is one of the biggest mosques in the state of Qatar. Created in the early 20th century, this mosque featuring many domes is a blend of authentic Arabian as well as modern architecture. The crisp lines of the construction provide ample outdoor spaces enabling worshippers to move freely. Though inner access to the mosque is permitted to only Muslims, this is an imposing place of worship to capture images and have a good view from the top of the hill.
A sight to behold and soak yourself in the experience. Stretching up to a magnificent seven-kilometre extent, this waterfront promenade has a boardwalk enabling a unique unobstructed view of the city's skyscrapers on one side and the breathtaking views of the Persian Gulf on the other side. Enjoy this walk at dusk to view the twinkling light as you walk and even enjoy a soothing cruise on a traditional dhow.
It is a profound experience to go into the desert and one you must do when visiting Doha. Miles and miles of dry glistening sand, the sounds of the wind as it whizzes past you, the awesome dunes all add up to a strange landscape for the first-timers. The best way to get the authentic feel of the desert is to do a safari and an overnight stay to experience the night under a dark sky and the peace of silence all around in that surreal setting.
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