Jabal Akhdhar continues to attract tourists giving a major boost to Oman’s attempts to establish itself as a year-round tourism destination
Lakshmi Kothaneth -
Muscat, May 5 -
Even in this scorching summer, Jabal Akhdhar continues to attract tourists giving a major boost to Oman’s attempts to establish itself as a year-round tourism destination.
With Salalah in the list as a ‘Must-Go’ for summer tourists for many years now, new destinations like Jabal Shams and Jabal Akhdhar will give only extra impetus to the tourism strategy.
Top in the list of itinerary while visiting Jabal Akhdhar or the Green Mountains is Wadi Bani Habib.
The abandoned village perched on the mountain is the immediate attraction when tourists arrive at the parking.
From the parking lot begins the steps meandering down to the wadi and up to the other side and onto the stone houses.
The farms on either side are nourished by the falaj that flows through.
According to Hameed al Habsi, who is a regular visitor to Wadi Bani Habib, said, “This wadi is unique because it has many fruit bearing trees and medicinal plants.There are peach, pomegranates, walnuts and so many other trees and medicinal plants. Interesting part is that they all have different seasons.”
For Alex, a tourist from Italy, it was the falaj that was special, “To see the irrigation system of Oman that is recognised by Unesco by adding it in the world Heritage list is fascinating.”
Alex saw not just a traditional irrigation system, but a water channel that has been operating for centuries.
Based on the gravity and the aquifer this traditional water channels have been irrigating the terrace farms and oasis of the Green Mountains just like other thousands of aflaj in the country.
“Landscapes of Oman are amazing because it is so diverse. We have been to the desert and now we are on top of Jabal Akhdhar. The Muscat city, the ocean and the villages — there is so much to explore. We have been here for two weeks,” Alex said.
Getting down the steps might be easy but climbing up can be challenging and exciting.“I think I must have burnt at least 200 calories,” said an excited tourist as she tried to catch her breath.
Half way through the steps down to wadi at a slight landing one gets to sit and enjoy watching the cool water gurgle past reflecting the sunlight as it channels out to many farms on the way.
The surface channel are fed by underground water sources and used to be considered a mystery, after all this hydraulic engineering is centuries old and a fascination for today’s tourists.
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