MUSCAT: Time magazine has included Bab Al Salam Mosque in Muscat in its annual World’s Greatest Places list.
Time magazine has unveiled its annual World’s Greatest Places list, highlighting 100 extraordinary hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums and parks. The list – compiled in part through the nominations of global correspondents and contributors – features eco-conscious glamping sites, billion-dollar hotels, villages in Egypt and museums in Tokyo, all conveniently categorised into ‘places to stay’ and ‘places to visit’.
The magazine said: “For years, the Middle East’s cutting-edge skyscrapers have stood side by side with opulent mosques rooted in centuries of classical Islamic architecture. But lately, a wave of more contemporary houses of worship have emerged on the skylines of Gulf cities, often paying tribute to age-old design in fresh and unexpected ways.” Last year, Omani design firm Altqadum unveiled Masjid Bab Al Salam in Muscat, with a tranquil complex of blush-coloured circular structures. An arc of water hugs the central building, while a delicate crescent is etched into the freestanding conical minaret; inside, a dome of over 1,600 crystal bulbs forms a chandelier over the main prayer hall, and in place of a mihrab, a niche that traditionally directs congregants toward Mecca, the magazine said.
Time magazine described the mosque as a minimalist wonder bathed in natural light, with a more restrained aesthetic than some of the region’s lavishly appointed religious spaces, leaving visitors to turn their thoughts inward. — ONA
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