Salalah the stunning jewel of the Sultanate of Oman
Oman's southern Dhofar region has a glorious history and heritage-the wonders of nature, rich culture, traditions and notable economic development. Dhofar's history and heritage are strongly reflected in the mores of the Omani people. Frankincense enjoys a pivotal place among all things that embody the region's fine heritage. In antiquity, the scented gum inspired a trade of spectacular proportions with other civilizations, spawning in its wake legendary cities like (the lost city of Ubar), Sumharam and Al Balid, the ruins of which are a big draw to tourist.
Salalah is the capital and seat of the governor or Wali of the southern Omani province of Dhofar. The population of Salalah is 197,169 as of 2009. The Sultanate of Oman is ideally and strategically situated at the crossroads of the world, residing between industrialized European Countries and the modernized Asia of today. The Sultanate is distinct with its long coastline and is the gateway to the Persian Gulf as well as the door way to the world's richest oil deposits. It overlooks the Arabian Sea and lies between the two continents of the Indian Ocean, and the sub-continent of Africa. Oman's bordering neighbors are the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A), United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) and the Yemen Republic.
The Sultanate of Oman with a total area of 309,500 square kilometres is the second largest country in the Arabian Peninsula. Oman borders with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the west, the Republic of Yemen in the south, the Straits of Hormuz in the north and the Arabian Sea in the east. Oman has a magnificent coastline stretching 1,700 kilometres from the Straits of Hormuz in the north to the borders of the Republic of Yemen in the south, overlooking the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea in the east.
Salalah is the second largest city in the Sultanate of Oman, and the largest city in the Dhofar Provence. The coastal city of Salalah is a traditional stronghold and birthplace of the Sultan, Qaboos bin Said. The Sultan traditionally lives in Salalah rather than in Muscat, the capital and largest city in Oman; Qaboos has bucked this trend, and has lived in Muscat since he ascended to the throne in 1970. He does however visit Salalah fairly regularly to meet with influential tribal and local leaders; his last visit was in 2006 and before that he visited in 2002. In mid-2009 the massive Sultan Qaboos Mosque was opened in Salalah, 39 years after he had taken the throne.
Salalah, better known as the perfume city of Arabia, is the capital of Dhofar region. Two compelling reasons draw vistors to this mystical land antiquity of the place dating back thousands of years, stemming from historical and religious factors, and the secenic splendours of the magnificent mountains, captivating beaches and an awe-inspiring desert. Ancient history dating back to 2500 BC lies in slumber in Salalah. Vistors have the opportunity to step into the very spots where legendary men lived their lives. The tomb of Prophet Job located on Mount (Jabal) Eiteen, 40 km from Salalah, has special appeal to Muslims, Christians and Jews as the prophet's life is mentioned in the scriptures of the three religions.
If silence could speak, the antiquated port city of Sumharam, which reigned supreme 2,000 years ago as the guardian of the perfume paradise, will narrate enless accounts of the heydays etched by the fortified hill city adjacent to Khor Rori Creek. Strategy at its best sums up the ancient city's soul reflected in its ruins. Concerted efforts Tourists enjoy a hearty meal in a scenic locale of Salalah during the monsoon season have been made to unearth the missing links of the port city, the pioneering one in 1952 by Wendell Phillips, a leading American Archaeologist, who made remarkable headway through subsequent visits and excavations. Sumharam is located in Taqah, 30 km from Salalah.
Oman's fame as a treasure trove of frankincense and perfumes is still continuing thanks to the utmost care given by the people to preserve the exclusive natural resources. Traditional markets (souks) in Salalah City are crowd-pullers as the best varieties of frankincense and perfumes indigenously produced by Omanis are available there.
The city of Salalah is known as the "perfume capital of Arabia". The city is a popular destination for tourism due to the natural attractions of the nearby mountains and abundant stands of frankincense trees lining mountain wadi courses. Around the city and into the mountains the countryside is lush and green during the monsoon period with the vegetation supporting herds of cattle. The climate supports wildlife often more commonly associated with East Africa, such as leopards and hyenas. Also plants associated with Africa are common. These include the Baobab tree and others. Salalah and surrounding areas is one of the few ancient areas on the Arabian peninsula that have extensive coconut cultivation since ancient times. The coconut cultivators grown are usually of the tall varieties and its nuts are mostly sold as tender coconut for drinking. The beautiful beaches and coastline are also major attractions for scuba diving and bird watching.
In 2010 during the 40th anniversary of Sultan Qaboos taking the throne, he decided to spend his time in Salalah. The 40th anniversary celebrations consisted of a massive parade from the Sultan Qaboos Mosque until his palace in Al-Haffa. The parade lasted several hours and had an estimated 100,000 attenders.
