One of the most well known landmarks in the Omani capital of Muscat, the Grand Mosque combines sheer lavish design with an ambience full of peace and calm. It is open to outside visitors giving you the chance to explore this sacred site.
An impressive gift
In order to mark his 30 year reign, Sultan Qaboos gifted the Grand Mosque Muscat to the nation; after six years of construction, in 2001 it was finally completed and is definitely a sight worth taking in when planning a sightseeing trip from your Oman resort or hotel.
Keep in mind when visiting
When heading inside you do have to be dressed modestly in attire that covers your legs and arms. Girls (7 years and over) and women need to cover their hair, while you can hire or purchase scarves and abayas onsite. Non-Muslims can visit the mosque from 8 to 11 in the morning and makes for an ideal excursion when staying at places even a bit away from the capital such as Alila Jabal Akhdar Oman.
Highlights outside
Spread across a huge area of over 400,000 square metres, the mosque features a distinctive sandstone element in its design. It also has a massive central dome and four minarets that flank the 90 metre main minaret.
Highlights within
The mosque can hold 20,000 worshippers so its interiors are massive, to say the least! While you will find ornate mosaics within, the truly awe-inspiring highlights include the hand-loomed Persian carpet (the world’s second largest) in the main hall, the impressive chandelier with Swarovski crystals and a library with over 20,000 books.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+
