"I felt more at home in these mountains than I had anywhere in my life,
and I didn't want to leave" ~ Jannifer Hanson
05th May 2016
Mountains have never failed to make me feel like home. Living in a foreign country approximately 1,900 miles away from my native land, I never knew there was a place here that can make me feel closer to home. Well, it was a long holiday and too good to waste at home. So family and friends, a group of 13 adults and 2 kids, took off to the mountains.
Starting from the usual gathering
point in Ruwi at 9 a.m., the three vehicles drove through the city passing
Rusayl, Murayrat, Fanja, Al Farara and many other villages with beautiful backdrops.
With one stop for breakfast for approx. 45min, we reached the bottom of the
mountain range close to 11a.m. From the military secured entrance, we began the
climb to the mountains.
The Jebel
Akhdar (meaning "the Green Mountain"), is part of the Al Hajar Mountains range in Ad Dakhiliyah, Sultanate of Oman. Nearly 150km from
Muscat, Jebel Akdhar is the central section of the mountain range. The
elevations receive a precipitation of around 300mm annually that supports the
growth of shrubs, trees and local agricultural purposes.
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| At the checkpoint |
It should be noted that only SUVs are
allowed beyond the checkpoint due to safety reasons.
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| The three vehicles en route |
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| The three vehicles going uphill |
The drive uphill was
amazing. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the most if you are seated in the passenger
seat. The view on either sides of the road was simply breathtaking. At
every viewpoint there were notices that informed travelers of the height above
sea level and a description of the view. Sceneries of petty villages,
agricultural projects and many more mountain ranges were seen on either sides
of the route.
By 12.45p.m we reached our destination
which was the Al Jebel Al Akhdar Hotel. Built on the edge of a cliff, this
hotel is a relaxing haven for travelers. With a most exotic view, peaceful
environment, the cool breeze humming from all sides and sincere hospitality of
the staff, this place has taken maximum efforts to keep their visitors at
comfort.
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| The Al Jebel Al Akdhar Hotel |
After lunch and a small nap, a game of
cards and tea we left the hotel for site seeing. Within a 30minute drive from
the hotel, going further uphill, we arrived at Wadi Bani Habib. Located at a
height of 2000m above sea level, the Wadi is now an abandoned Omani village. This
deserted village across a plateau consists of dwellings built with clay and
stones. Even though there is no sign of life there now, the remnants still sing
the way of life in those ancient days.
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| The steps that took us halfway across the plateau |
The rustling sounds of the leaves, occasional
chirps and tweets of the birds, the silence and the wilderness are a few of the
luxuries one gets to experience on this hike. The hike across this plateau is
most exciting. A flight of approx. 180 steps takes you halfway across the
plateau. From there it becomes a more difficult hike. At the bottom of the steps is a stone path that shows enough
evidence to believe it had once been a river.
Crossing that and a narrow channel that might have been the irrigation system that supported the distribution of water for agriculture, we came to a steeper elevation with no steps. Clinging on to stones, branches and helping hands of the troop we climbed to the top. There we could see the dwellings. Inside it were chambers that could have once been a kitchen, a bedroom, a storeroom, etc. One house even had a backyard with a fireplace.
Crossing that and a narrow channel that might have been the irrigation system that supported the distribution of water for agriculture, we came to a steeper elevation with no steps. Clinging on to stones, branches and helping hands of the troop we climbed to the top. There we could see the dwellings. Inside it were chambers that could have once been a kitchen, a bedroom, a storeroom, etc. One house even had a backyard with a fireplace.
Far beyond this point we could see
many more houses that could have a made a petty village ages ago. Collecting
pictures as memories we climbed down the hill, crossed the stone path and
climbed the steps back bringing the hike to an end.
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| On our way back to the hotel |
With one stop on the way to enjoy the
cool weather and a hot cup of coffee, we reached the hotel by 7.30p.m., tired
and hungry. The hotel served a buffet with a delicious spread.
The digital wall-thermometer hung in
the lobby read as 19°C. It was cold and windy outside. A walk in the garden
summed up this perfect getaway making me wanting to stay in mountains for good.
The serenity in the surrounding, the picturesque mountains and the most wanted
relaxation after the busy days spent in the city, only makes you want to never
leave.
But all good things come to an end. So,
the following day morning after enjoying a scrumptious breakfast buffet, it was
finally time for us to leave. Coming downhill only took us 40minutes and by
10.40a.m we were back on the road.
There’s more to see, definitely more
to explore. The mountains will call for me again, and when it does, I shall
definitely go.
Ila
liqaa (See you again)
