The structures and the design of the city and the Rustaq Fort portray the pre-Islamic era of the region, and the mosque, enclosed in thick walls, is a symbol of the post-Islamic influence. For further exploration of the history of the city and for a complete desert experience try the Rustaq Dunes and Mountains. The Dunes afford the general mystical and romantic setting of an Arab desert with various forts and springs to explore. The hot springs are a much visited attraction in Muscat as it is believed that the waters of these springs are of medicinal value. These waters always maintain a constant temperature and have been a popular hot-spring since antiquity when people travelled quite a distance to get to it and experience the much spoken about healing values of it.
For a more romantic adventure try exploring the Rustaqs Al Hazm Castle. This is the ideal place for those interested in the history of Omani military as well as the ancient architectural styles used in the country as well as in the region. The amazing designs and intricate carvings used in the castles wooden gates in itself shows the remarkable age old construction abilities in the region. The dungeons and passageways are great to explore and they showcase amazing layout designing skills. However, for most visitors the best part about the Al Hazm Castle is the armoury which features daggers, guns and swords used hundreds of years ago.
The Rustaq Mountains, compared to the Dunes, offer far less attractions, but as a whole its majestic demeanour complements the entire desert setting of Rustaq affording a completely mystical setting. These rugged set of mountains, most of which having peaks rising above 2000 metres, are mainly covered in rock and are arid and dry; their main purposes are being a lovely backdrop for the golden dunes.
For those visiting Oman the ideal place to base oneself would be in Muscat. Providing easy access to the main attractions in this main city as well as other attractions in close by Rustaq, accommodation options here are perfect for your stay. Your ideal
Muscat hotel can be searched and booked through the WWW, and for those seeking to have a memorable stay whilst in Muscat the ideal option would be an
Oman resort such as Millennium Resort Mussanah.
