5 top attractions in Musandam: Hajar Mountains have several valleys, each known as a ‘Wadi’ in the local language. These Wadis offer adventurous activities to thrill-seekers. Among the first things to do in Musandam, enjoy a highly recommended four-wheel drive in the Wadis of this place. The adventurous drive has many stops where you can get off the vehicle and roam in the area. Among the Wadis, the Wilayat Khasab is a popular site for the Jabal Hareem Fossils – fossils of fishes and other marine animals. Their geological age is around 250 million years old!
The castle now has several exhibitions about the history of Musandam, an old documents exhibition, and other exhibitions displaying jewellery, clothes, weapons, kitchen equipment, and wedding decorations. There is also a Quran learning school, a model of a traditional elevated summer house, and a model of a date storage which is referred to as Bait Al Quful. In addition, there are three old traditional Omani boats that were built in Musandam, and some old canons. So, a visit to Khasab Castle is an exciting experience to discover the history of Musandam and to learn about the unique features and heritage of the governorate.
Khasab Castle is located in the Musandam Peninsula’s capital, the Khasab Province. The Portuguese built this castle in the 17th-century, as part of their undertaking to take control of the Strait of Hormuz and colonize the Khasab Province. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Arabian Gulf to the Arab Peninsula and is a prominent trading route, entry into the Arabian Gulf. The castle was used by the Omanis during their battles with the Portuguese during 1624, after which it became Governor Walli’s residence. The castle also served as a prison. Today it is a museum, which hosts several exhibitions on the history of Musandam. There’s also an exhibition of old documents, clothes, weaponry, jewelry, and other household items from those distant times. Use our blog post as a guide and check out this wonderful museum’s secrets for yourself.
Musandam is historically one of Oman’s most remote and impoverished areas, home to tribes who had little in common, either culturally or linguistically, with those further south. The inhabitants of Kumzar continue to speak a unique language – Kumzari – based on Iranian blended with elements of Arabic, along with numerous loan-words from Hindi, English, Spanish and French – said to be the result of sailors shipwrecked along the coast who settled in the village. The region has also enjoyed close connections with Iran, just a short boat trip away over the Strait of Hormuz. Until recently a flourishing smuggling trade connected the two, and the influence of Iran continues to be strong to this day. Discover extra information at Dubai Musandam Trip.