According to the Lonely Planet guide, the area around the Al Alam Palace, better known as the Sultan's Palace, is called Old Muscat. I thought Muttrah, where the Corniche and the Souq are, were the old town, but the guide has a different opinion.
I take the car and drive through a very beautiful area. Unfortunately, I fail to stop often along the way, that's why I take only very few photographs. I will return to take more, I promise.
I arrive at a roundabout with stunning buildings around it and stop to take some photos. However, as soon as I stop, I see a sign in front of me that says no stopping at any time. So I hurry with photo taking and jump into my car to drive on. I see a car parking sign around the corner, park there and have a look at the map to see where I am. The map reveals that one of those buildings at the roundabout is the National Museum. The other building is the Secretary General for Taxation. Around this area there are a few more museums and government buildings and of course the iconic Sultan's Palace.
I leave the car and start walking. I marvel at all those beautiful buildings, flowers, green spaces and enjoy the tranquility of the area and wonder why it is called Old Muscat. There are no old buildings here. I see a wall, which looks new and imagine that if it's called Old Muscat, perhaps the first settlement was here many centuries ago and the old buildings were demolished and new were built. The guide doesn't mention anything about this. But on the way, shortly before you reach the stunning roundabout, there are some older, but not really old buildings.
As I approach the National Museum, I see that a large group of Germans are about to enter and a coach full of Chinese is just stopping in front of the building. Not a good time to visit it. So I walk towards the Sultan's Palace. The palace is not open to the public and many other sights are also not open to the public. There are some watchtowers and forts on the hills around, but unfortunately you can't enter them. There is one exception, however. The Al Jalali Fort is accessible with a special permit. You can obtain it through the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture. Application is made online. I haven't tried it. Let me know if you do and if it works.
I wander around the area for a while and discover a small mosque just underneath the Al Mirani Fort. Curious as I am, I go closer, make sure that it's no prayer time, take my shoes off and enter. It is a very beautiful and peaceful place. There is only one person inside. A worker, perhaps a gardener, is sleeping on the carpet. I walk quietly around the mosque and take a few photos and then I lie down on the carpet and close my eyes. It is unbelievably quiet and peaceful, so I close my eyes and sleep for a bit. The vibration of my mobile phone wakes me some twenty minutes later. I go outside, put my shoes on and continue my walk around the hill with the Al Mirani Fort. From here you have a view of the Sultan's Palace, the sea and an island just opposite. There's a guard at the entrance of the fort and when he sees me he greets me and starts a conversation. As I am in chatty mood, I go closer, greet him, we shake hands and answer his questions. He tells me that he is from a place called Suhar, which is by the sea. I tell him that I'm here on holidays and that I've come to run and to visit a friend near Nizwa, and he gives me a few tips on what to see in Oman. Unfortunately, I won't have time to go to those places, but surely will if I come back.
Now, I have to return to my hotel to pack a few things and drive to Birkat al Mouz, a village near Nizwa, where the University of Nizwa is located and where my friend lives.
If you would like to read more by me, put Theodore Goumas into the Amazon search bar and the following two should appear:
I take the car and drive through a very beautiful area. Unfortunately, I fail to stop often along the way, that's why I take only very few photographs. I will return to take more, I promise.
I arrive at a roundabout with stunning buildings around it and stop to take some photos. However, as soon as I stop, I see a sign in front of me that says no stopping at any time. So I hurry with photo taking and jump into my car to drive on. I see a car parking sign around the corner, park there and have a look at the map to see where I am. The map reveals that one of those buildings at the roundabout is the National Museum. The other building is the Secretary General for Taxation. Around this area there are a few more museums and government buildings and of course the iconic Sultan's Palace.
I leave the car and start walking. I marvel at all those beautiful buildings, flowers, green spaces and enjoy the tranquility of the area and wonder why it is called Old Muscat. There are no old buildings here. I see a wall, which looks new and imagine that if it's called Old Muscat, perhaps the first settlement was here many centuries ago and the old buildings were demolished and new were built. The guide doesn't mention anything about this. But on the way, shortly before you reach the stunning roundabout, there are some older, but not really old buildings.
As I approach the National Museum, I see that a large group of Germans are about to enter and a coach full of Chinese is just stopping in front of the building. Not a good time to visit it. So I walk towards the Sultan's Palace. The palace is not open to the public and many other sights are also not open to the public. There are some watchtowers and forts on the hills around, but unfortunately you can't enter them. There is one exception, however. The Al Jalali Fort is accessible with a special permit. You can obtain it through the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture. Application is made online. I haven't tried it. Let me know if you do and if it works.
I wander around the area for a while and discover a small mosque just underneath the Al Mirani Fort. Curious as I am, I go closer, make sure that it's no prayer time, take my shoes off and enter. It is a very beautiful and peaceful place. There is only one person inside. A worker, perhaps a gardener, is sleeping on the carpet. I walk quietly around the mosque and take a few photos and then I lie down on the carpet and close my eyes. It is unbelievably quiet and peaceful, so I close my eyes and sleep for a bit. The vibration of my mobile phone wakes me some twenty minutes later. I go outside, put my shoes on and continue my walk around the hill with the Al Mirani Fort. From here you have a view of the Sultan's Palace, the sea and an island just opposite. There's a guard at the entrance of the fort and when he sees me he greets me and starts a conversation. As I am in chatty mood, I go closer, greet him, we shake hands and answer his questions. He tells me that he is from a place called Suhar, which is by the sea. I tell him that I'm here on holidays and that I've come to run and to visit a friend near Nizwa, and he gives me a few tips on what to see in Oman. Unfortunately, I won't have time to go to those places, but surely will if I come back.
Now, I have to return to my hotel to pack a few things and drive to Birkat al Mouz, a village near Nizwa, where the University of Nizwa is located and where my friend lives.
On the way to the Al Bustan area
A mile or so before the National Museum
The National Museum
Walk through there to reach the Sultan's Palace
Ministry General for Taxation
The Sultan's Palace
Gate to the car park of a ministry
The mosque where I had a nap
Al Mirani Fort, above the mosque
washing area
The ceiling
Al Mirani Fort
Another fort
The Sultan's Palace from the back
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