Muscat in Kochi!

“It is difficult for me to forget Oman and its people. They are very close to my heart. The period of my stay in Muscat was blessed for me and my family. There was no second thought about the name to be given to the building”

Samuel Kutty

Muscat in Kochi sounds strange! No wonder, a landmark building named “Muscat Tower” in this metropolitan city of old-world charm with diverse linguistics in the southern Indian state of Kerala has made it possible.

Today, Oman’s capital city is familiar to everyone who is a resident or a visitor to Kochi thanks to this multi-story Muscat Tower, that stands tall amidst the quaint streets and vibrant markets in the heart of Kochi’s bustling Kadavanthara neigbouthood.

Significantly, Muscat Tower, which houses the country headquarters of several international brands proclaiming the name of Oman or its cities or cuisines, is one of many business establishments in Kerala with its pedigrees to the Sultanate of Oman.

This is because all those expatriates who settle back in their hometowns in Kerala treasure for life those precious memories of peaceful and happy living in the Sultanate and also cherish the friendships that they made during their stay in the country that fostered them.

“It is difficult for me to forget Oman and its people. They are very close to my heart. The period of my stay in Muscat was blessed for me and my family. There was no second thought about the name to be given to the building”, P K Thomas, owner of Muscat Tower, told the Observer.

For him, Muscat Tower is the biggest tribute that he could pay to Oman and its people.

Thomas, who lived in Muscat for nearly four decades, says, “Oman and its lovely people make everyone feel at home; they make you feel part of their family. It will be very difficult for me to forget Oman, which has truly been blessed for me and my family”.

He adds, “I have received so much love from my business associates and my colleagues, as well as many of the Omanis with whom I have interacted. Of course the people of Oman are so friendly”.

He is settled in Kerala, so far away, yet his mind is set on Oman. Thomas says, “Oman is my second home. I am fortunate to have lived in the country under two great leaders, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik”.

Mohamed Ali Mubarak, who runs a mobile shop named after Oman in a town in central Kerala, says, “Oman is a country that is very welcoming to expatriates. It is a very peaceful and tolerant nation that many who go to work there have fond memories of. I truly miss Oman and its wonderful people.”

He said many people who returned from Oman visited his shop because the name itself is an attraction. “They say it is nostalgic to see the name Oman. They share those memories”, he adds.

In Kochi, Muscat Tower is a landmark and key location point for those who navigate through the maps to reach Kadavanthara, which has easy access to major roads, railway stations, and airports. It is also well connected to other parts of Kochi via the rapid transit system of the metro.

Tucked in the beauty of coconut palms and endless blue waters, Kochi is one of the important towns in south India, with a natural harbor. It is the commercial hub of Kerala.

Lying on Kerala's southwest coast and set among picturesque lagoons and backwaters, Kochi’s history stretches back to the time of King Solomon. Called the "Queen of the Arabian Sea," Kochi was the centre of the Indian spice trade for many centuries. The city has maintained a trade network with Arab merchants since the pre-Islamic era.

Thousands of Arab nationals, including Omanis, visit the city, as it is home to several prominent hospitals and healthcare facilities offering world-class medical care. Oman is the biggest market for medical tourism among Gulf countries.