Arabian Daze - 11

A series about travels in the U.A.E and Oman, continues. 

As mentioned in the last post, our floating hotel, the Costa Fortuna, remained at the port of Muscat for a second day. We were due to depart at 14.00 local time, so my friend and I had time for a half day sightseeing tour of the city.

We began our morning at the number one attraction in Muscat, the Grand Mosque. Officially called Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, it's best to visit in the early morning, before the hoards of tour buses descend and ruin the quiet surroundings. By taxi from the port, it takes about 20 minutes to reach this mosque.

Outer gardens:

My friend and I, in our mosque-approved clothing for the visit:

Mosque wear for women: long pants or skirts which cover the ankles,
long sleeve shirts & a head scarf.
For men: bermuda shorts and T-shirts are okay. Long pants and shirts are better.

The Women's prayer room -- a hugely ornate door welcomes visitors: 

Inside the women's prayer area: 

Work began in 1995, and the entire mosque complex was completed in 2001. The men's prayer room can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers. The architectural highlights are the stone mosaics, the hand woven carpet, which is the second largest in the world, and huge chandeliers embedded with crystals.

Outside mosque views: 
center dome/ cutenekko outside

 Cloister halls/ spire 

Former V.P of the U.S, Dick Cheney, visited this exact spot (the cloister halls) at the Grand Mosque. See his photo HERE. (via The White House)

Images of halls & doorways at the mosque:

Mosaic details / detailed close up of a wooden door:

To enter the men's prayer room, we must go through these huge wooden doors:

Please come back to pass through the doors into the men's prayer room of the Grand Mosque. I'll post photos of the opulence inside, soon.

~ Information ~ 

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is open to visitors. Be sure to visit early in the morning (around 8 am) to avoid the crowds. Shoes must be taken off before entering the main areas. 
Appropriate dress for both men and women is in effect. Read HERE for information about dress and behavior at a mosque. 
The main website and virtual tour of the mosque is HERE. 
Trip advisor reviews are HERE. 

This stop was part of a half-day tour called "Muscat City: A Fascinating Capital". Cost $35 USD/person. Available on Viator.com