Salalah in Oman is quite the opposite as to what a majority of visitors would expect to see when it comes to a typical Middle Eastern city. As opposed to date palm trees and stretches of desert, Salalah is home to beautiful virgin beaches, banana and coconut trees and the odd waterfall or two which make for quite the spectacle indeed. Referred to as the “City of the Prophets,” Salalah is proud to be at the very heart of local customs and religious symbolisms that take you back to the days of old. The city is famed for having a unique selection of religious sites that do more than attract visitors of all ages but provides a gateway into understanding as to why the Middle East is one of the most treasured regions in the world, complete with intrigue and a fascinating people.
From those sites of interest worth venturing to, the tomb of Prophet Umran is undoubtedly given pride of place amongst all other landmarks in and around Salalah. This 30 metre long grave is by far one of the largest of its kind that one would ever have the fortune of encountering and tourists will also be afforded the luxury of calling by a well-manicured park and a tiny mosque that form part of the attraction and appeal of the holy prophet. Rectangular in shape, the grave is found besides the Haffa House and within close proximity to most Salalah hotels. Should one be on the lookout for good, quality accommodation and luxurious escapes then look to the Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara from where one’s leisure activities might be contemplated and thereafter attempted. Though the site cannot accommodate too large a crowd in one gathering, tourists can take their time scouring the neighbourhood before calling by the grave in order to pay homage or recite verses from the Quran. On a more serious note, those fortunate enough to have plenty of time on their hands ought to visit Masjid Salman Bin Farsi where an enclosed building housing the footprints of Prophet Saleh’s camel can be discovered which has been preserved through the ages. As the Quran indicates, this camel was said to have appeared out of the mountains nearby and was seen as a miracle though it was later killed by those who refused to accept the prophet. Similar to other religious sites, visitors are kindly requested to dress appropriately and remove their shoes upon entry to the building while women are not permitted to enter without covering their hair.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
