Muscat, the capital of The Sultanate of Oman, is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places to visit in the Middle East region. It has many tourist attractions among which Mutrah Souq is one such place which is known for its old-world charm and grandeur. Situated in Mutrah Corniche, this busy marketplace is a maze of winding alleys and narrow pathways canopied by the ceiling made of timber and glass.
A Bit Of History
In ancient times, mostly the nomadic tribes inhabited major part of the Middle East region. As new trade routes on land and the sea opened, many cities in this region started flourishing. To cater to various daily needs and other commercial dealings, marketplaces started operating. Traders, craftsmen, artisans and the general public visited these places which contributed enormously towards establishing an atmosphere of lively action and economic prosperity.
The souq is one of the oldest marketplaces in Muscat and it has existed for the past two hundred years. The Mutrah port which lies adjacent to the souq was a major thoroughfare and a sheltering place in the past for the maritime traders who used to frequently travel between Africa and Asia. The proximity to the port made the souq very popular among people and a lot of items ranging from imported articles, local handicrafts, jewellery, sea equipments, dates and frankincense were sold there.
Interesting Fact : The Mutrah Souq is also called as Al Dhalam (Darkness in Arabic) Souq because of the dark alleys and absence of sunlight even during the day.
Layout Of The Souq
It is difficult to gauge the entire extent of the market from outside. The main entrance of Mutrah Souq is on the northern side and faces the Corniche. To the northwest of the souq lies the walled community Sur Al-Lawatiya and to its south lies the Mutrah High Street. An old fort built by Portugese in the 16th century overlooks the souq.
In the earlier days, there were different sections in the souq for retailers and wholesalers. However with passage of time, the whole place slowly turned into a common arcade of retail as well as wholesale units.
Items To Buy In The Souq
The souq is big and has a lot of shops along the winding pathways selling variety of items.
- Omani Daggers
The Omani Daggers or Khanjars as they are commonly known, are sold in many outlets in the souq. These daggers have been traditionally used as weapons and hunting knives. But now these are kept mostly as souvenirs or used in ceremonial occasions.
- Omani Cap
Omani cap or Kumma as it is popularly called, is a symbol of Omani tradition. It is an embroidered headgear which is an important part of the men’s traditional attire in Oman. There are many outlets which sell the Omani Caps. The hand sewn caps are very expensive. The machine sewn caps are usually much cheaper.
- Fragrance Items
While walking through the souq, one thing which is bound to captivate the senses is the rich smell of perfumes, oils and frankincense. There are plenty of shops selling these items in almost every nook and corner of the souq.
- Food Items
Dry fruits, dates, spices and sweets of various kinds are available in the market. Among all the food items, Omani Halwa is a popular sweet jelly delicacy and it is available in many shops inside the souq. It is also served along with coffee or Qahwa (coffee in Arabic) in the restaurants located on the promenade adjoining the souq.
- Gold
Mutrah Souq has an entire alley of gold shops which are known for their glitz and glamour. These outlets sell variety of gold as well as silver jewellery items. Some of these stores also deal with precious stones.
TRAVEL TIPS
1. Mutrah Souq remains very crowded especially in the evenings and in the weekends (Friday and Saturday). It is recommended to visit the souq in a cab as finding a parking space for private vehicle is quite a task.
2. The place is touristy. Some bit of haggling or bargaining can be done for negotiating the prices before purchasing any item. But care must be taken to avoid being rude while bargaining.
3. With the meandering pathways and alleys, it is possible to lose the way while walking in the souq. When in doubt, it is recommended to ask for the directions towards the main entrance or the corniches.
