Oman is a charming sultanate that once used to be part of the major civilizations of the world. It boasts of a varied and mysterious countryside covered in myth and archeological finds. Being a land that is at the centre point of four seas and three continents, there is a history that is closely linked to sea faring too: the most popular of it being the legend of Sinbad, the sailor. For the traveler who comes to this Middle Eastern land, there is much history and legends that can be heard of. There are a number of places that one can go to explore its rich culture and heritage.
Amongst them, are the private museums which house some of the finest collections of artifacts from a time gone by. Bait al Zubair, translated as House of Al Zubair, is one such setting, situated close to the Ministry of Information on Al Saidiya Street in Oman’s capital Muscat. There is a wide collection of ancient weapons, costumes, household equipment and such. It is largely a private collection but fully worth having a look at if you are in the city.
It is a major attraction to the visitors who come to Oman, and those who are keen on history, architecture and the mysterious. It was opened to the public quite recently in 1998. Being a private museum, the establishment is fully funded by the Zubair family, the founders. The setting has on display a wide collection of Omani artifacts owned by the family and it is regarded to be one of the best private collections in the whole country.
There is an impressive collection of Khanjars, meaning small knives hat men carry in their belts, male attires, female attires, swords, firearms, jewelry, stamps, coins and even house hold goods as well as a library and much more. What is more, there are also early European maps as well as prints of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, as well as early photographs, important documents, manuscripts and even musical instruments.
For the tourist who comes to Oman to explore this land, there are many Oman beach resort,from which they can discover the country. For those looking for a conveniently located Oman Muscat hotel, ther is Millennium Resort Mussanah, which has combined middle eastern chic with modern comforts and luxuries.
Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry.