Standing serenely under the oppressively clear blue sky and surrounded by the vastness of the dessert sand, Doha Fort remains supreme yet sublime, with the country’s trade and craft and rich history carefully preserved within its walls and its exterior reminiscent of the architecture of a past era. Built during the days of the Turkish regime during the 19th century, the fort was initially used as a military base and later on as a prison, the former to which it bears witness and evidence even to this day. Today it functions as a museum and holds a treasure trove of historical elegance and cultural items that vividly showcases the country’s brilliant culture.
The fort is found in the middle of the souq area, in Al bidda area of Doha and is a prestigious example of the architecture of that era. While its history is rather hostile and grim, and the walls are haughty and the gates uncompromising, the fort yet has about it an ambience of peace and quiet, partly imparted by the vast space around it; there is also a graceful fountain just outside and the fresh breeze that ceaselessly keeps company. The fort bears evidences that tell of the country’s cultural practices and crafts, from weaving to paintings to wood carvings. Some of the exhibits include Bedouin sadu, wooden ornaments and carvings, brilliant oil paintings and even fishing equipment and boats.
Bearing witness to its military era, the museum also holds military equipment and weapons that visitors find quite curiously stimulating. Another distinct feature of the fort is the mosque which is placed in the centre which has no walls, built for the purpose of observing visitors at all times. Rebuilt in 1927 the fort functions excellently as a museum and is a place of edutainment for the knowledge hungry travellers and visitors to Doha Quatar.
Prepare for your journey to Doha by planning ahead and obtaining the residential services of a Doha hotel. With its close proximity to the major city attractions, Millennium Hotel Doha combines convenience with warm hospitality and international level services that will at once charm a traveller the moment they step onto its threshold. This is one hotel in Doha that a traveller will not regret stepping into and will gladly recommend this place to other visitors.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.