Booming Development and Impressive Culture in Muscat

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With its name, Muscat, which means ‘safe anchorage’ in the old language, the city truly keeps up to its tagging as it serves as Oman’s most prolific capital. Muscat is a city that dwells on how the sea helps its inhabitants reach success and how the beauty of the shore became a power for tourism and travel. Muscat has a very rich history, which might be the very reason why it strives to retain it despite modernization.

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With all due respect to its roots, Muscat is now slowly becoming known as a place where relaxation and eloquence meet: from the regal-looking facades of residential houses to the elegant approach on high-rise edifices of recreation, it is no wonder why more and more travelers pick Muscat as their destination. Feel free to express your delight for this developing city, and embrace how its citizens want to improve their quality of life every single day.

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Location

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Geographically, Muscat is found in Oman’s northeastern edge. The city is bordered by the Al Batinah Region at the western tip, while the Ash Sharqiyah Region can be seen on the eastern side. To the north of Muscat, you can easily pinpoint the Western Al Hajar Mountains on the map and the Ad Dakhiliyah Region ends the Muscat territory on the southern side.

Currently, the whole of Muscat covers almost 1,400 square miles of land and is inhabited by 1,300,000 citizens and counting.

Climate

Since Muscat can be seen at the outskirts of the Middle East, the city has a hot and arid climate which equates to long and hot summers and even hotter winters in an annual scale. Despite its classification as a dry country with respect to average temperature, Muscat still experiences 4 inches of rainfall that can be observed in the months of December to April.

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In an annual estimate, Muscat usually has a temperature of 49.2-degree Celsius as its all-time high, while cooler temperatures of 11.5 can be experienced in the first month of the year. Furthermore, May is said to be the brightest month with almost 348 hours of sunshine while February is the wettest with 0.95 inches of precipitation recorded.

Transportation

The Muscat International Airport is located about 25 kilometers away from Muscat’s business district, which happens to be your main entrance to the city if travelling by air. The city is also the main headquarters of the country’s head airlines Oman Air. Expect this airport to be very busy with flights and activities.

You’d be delighted to know that this specific airport caters to domestic and international flights to Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Eastern African nations.

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Since Muscat is Oman’s capital city, it is quite expected for the roads to be developed well. This easily connects Muscat to other famous Oman towns and areas.

Be acquainted with Baiza buses, one of Muscat’s main modes of public transport, which can bring you to different sites at a low cost. If you wish to rub elbows with more Muscat citizens, then look for the large buses colored in red and green and skim the cities’ intrinsic streets. Taxis and rented cars are also present for you to use when you want to travel more conveniently.

What to See

Corniche

If you want to be pleased with Muscat’s fine architecture, then head to see the Corniche, a street full of wondrous structures and smartly-placed buildings.

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The fountains and well-placed lights will surely delight you when you go here for an evening stroll. Also, experience how the city thrives at night with all the street food and activities happening during night time.

Sultan’s Palace

Dubbed as one of the most visited places of dwelling in Muscat, the Sultan’s Palace can be seen to the right of Mirani Street. Feast your eyes on the impressive edifice adorned with blue and gold pillars fit for a sultan.

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Inside, there’s a national museum that will be open soon, and while the palace is closed to the public, rumors have been circulating that sooner or later, it will be a destination that can be experienced by everyone.

Bait al-Baranda

A cut above the conventional museum, the Bait al-Baranda is something that plays around with futuristic and out-of-the-box approaches on letting the public see how Muscat has developed all these years.

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Here, you’ll be immersed into various interactive exhibits showing not just Muscat’s, but Oman’s commercial, historical and cultural beginnings as a whole.

Marina Bandar al-Rowdha

Not just a place for swimming, the Marina Bandar al-Rowdha is slowly making a scene in water sports for locals and tourists alike. Additionally, you can maximize and enjoy your visit to the beach with the Blue Marlin Restaurant just within reach to satisfy your seafood cravings.

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Go and channel your water-lover ego by dipping into the crystal-clear waters and the relaxing shore will definitely make you forget all the stress you’ve had before travelling to Muscat.

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Images:
(1) http://www.layoverguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Muscat-Sultanate-of-Oman.jpg
(2) http://cdn.justluxe.com/articles/images/news/main1959288.jpg
(3) http://paradiseintheworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/muscat-oman.jpg
(4) http://www.geographicguide.com/pictures/map-oman.jpg
(5) http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/77264619.jpg
(6) http://feroniasfrolic.com/files/2015/06/big-bus-tour1.jpg
(7) http://s02.sonyaandtravis.com/images/oman-2011/oman-muscat-a-muttrah-fort-from-the-corniche.jpg
(8) http://kappelman.name/travelingcows/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/40547-50_muscat_qaboos_mosquec12e.jpg
(9) https://rehabsaadblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/beit-al-baranda-3.jpg
(10) http://media2.trover.com/T/5649900f7eb4f4307b018bfc/fixedw_large_4x.jpg