Jabal Akhdar - Oman's Breathtaking Green Mountain
A drive through Muscat's captivating Hajjar mountain range leaves Mala Biswas revitalised and longing for more…
A two hour drive, southwest from Muscat, through the ancient and captivating Hajjar mountain range, leaves one soaked in nature's bounty. Jabal Akhdar looms ahead rising to more than 3,000 metres above sea level. Famous for its wide plateau close to the summit, it is located in the Dakhiliyah Region of Oman. Near the summit is a wide plateau from which you can peer into Wadi Ghul, Oman's Grand Canyon. A sheer drop of over a kilometre, with dramatically contorted vertical rock faces simply takes the breath away.
Jabal Akhdar, meaning Green Mountain, refers to the northern section of the Hajjar mountains. As you take the road out of Muscat, you reach a quaint town of Izki and then you start to climb past ancient villages steeply terraced into the mountainside. These mountains are home to isolated villages whose people live amongst the rocky peaks. These peaks provide the traveller with opportunities for walking, trekking, wildlife spotting, canyoning, exploration by 4 wheel drive and an opportunity to meet local people unchanged by the tourism found elsewhere in the Middle East.
Jabal Akhdar is known for its Mediterranean climate. Temperatures drop during winter to below zero Celsius, with snow falling at times, and rise in summer to 22 degrees Celsius. Due to its location and unique weather, the Green Mountain produces a variety of fruits, such as apricots, plums, figs, grapes, apples and pears, as well as almonds, walnuts and saffron. The pomegranate that grows here are wonderfully sweet and juicy and is among the finest of its kind in the world. So are the pink roses which are harvested for their perfume. My driver cum guide from Bahwan Travels was indeed extremely knowledgeable about the tiny little hamlet we visited and spoke with an elderly villager who had beautiful pomegranate farms. This is where villagers live in harmony with nature.
Irrigating by means of the unique Falaj water-channel system amongst others, they manage to produce such a wide variety of fruits. These villages and their terraced fields along with the numerous forts and lowland villages are one of the wonders of the region and a visit is a must for any visitor to Oman. I came away fascinated by Jabal Akhdar - indeed a charming part of Oman that beckons the evolved traveller.
A drive through Muscat's captivating Hajjar mountain range leaves Mala Biswas revitalised and longing for more…
 | |
 | |
A two hour drive, southwest from Muscat, through the ancient and captivating Hajjar mountain range, leaves one soaked in nature's bounty. Jabal Akhdar looms ahead rising to more than 3,000 metres above sea level. Famous for its wide plateau close to the summit, it is located in the Dakhiliyah Region of Oman. Near the summit is a wide plateau from which you can peer into Wadi Ghul, Oman's Grand Canyon. A sheer drop of over a kilometre, with dramatically contorted vertical rock faces simply takes the breath away.
Jabal Akhdar, meaning Green Mountain, refers to the northern section of the Hajjar mountains. As you take the road out of Muscat, you reach a quaint town of Izki and then you start to climb past ancient villages steeply terraced into the mountainside. These mountains are home to isolated villages whose people live amongst the rocky peaks. These peaks provide the traveller with opportunities for walking, trekking, wildlife spotting, canyoning, exploration by 4 wheel drive and an opportunity to meet local people unchanged by the tourism found elsewhere in the Middle East.
Jabal Akhdar is known for its Mediterranean climate. Temperatures drop during winter to below zero Celsius, with snow falling at times, and rise in summer to 22 degrees Celsius. Due to its location and unique weather, the Green Mountain produces a variety of fruits, such as apricots, plums, figs, grapes, apples and pears, as well as almonds, walnuts and saffron. The pomegranate that grows here are wonderfully sweet and juicy and is among the finest of its kind in the world. So are the pink roses which are harvested for their perfume. My driver cum guide from Bahwan Travels was indeed extremely knowledgeable about the tiny little hamlet we visited and spoke with an elderly villager who had beautiful pomegranate farms. This is where villagers live in harmony with nature.
Irrigating by means of the unique Falaj water-channel system amongst others, they manage to produce such a wide variety of fruits. These villages and their terraced fields along with the numerous forts and lowland villages are one of the wonders of the region and a visit is a must for any visitor to Oman. I came away fascinated by Jabal Akhdar - indeed a charming part of Oman that beckons the evolved traveller.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please do write your suggestions and thoughts.