A weekend in Muscat- Nakhal Fort

A hastily planned trip to visit a dear friend last month took us (my girlfriends and I) to Muscat, Oman.

One of the first things we explored on a hot and sunny Friday morning was the Nakhal (Arabic for palm tree) Fort. I didn't carry a camera, but used my phone to take pictures.

My phone and I found little treasures all over the fort. But first, few facts about the fort:-

The sign outside this room reads 'date store'.

The metal detail on a chest.

The ceiling in another room

The room with a view

This was my favourite room in the fort. 'Wali' (according to an Omani visitor) means Chief or Governor.

This is the view as you enter the room.

Wali's bed

I love the vibrant colours of the cloth on the canopy.

'Sandook' aka trunk.

A selfi(sh) attempt

A fellow tourist/photographer kindly let me take this picture of his while he rested in the shade

On my way to the top

The view from the top

Ready to leave... the last door

I would have loved to spend more time here. This fort has a very 'wise old man' feel to it- a place where you can sit for hours and feel at peace. I have been here twice now, the last time was with the family almost five years ago. Even then, I remember, the children enjoyed walking through the fort discovering its treasures.

Even though the rooms have been embellished with 'modern' fabrics, cushions and china, the fort retains its old world charm. The stunning location and the labyrinthine structure can keep you absorbed for hours.

For better quality pictures of the fort and for beautifully presented details about Oman, visit http://catbirdinoman.wordpress.com/. I stumbled upon this blog recently. If you wish to visit Oman, this blog is a good place to find out what you should see.

Next stop-  Al Twairah wadi