Salalah welcomes all to see nature’s enchanting beauty

Manama

 Planning for a silent getaway to escape from day-to-day affairs and stresses? Looking for a tranquil location to immerse into nature’s pristine grandeur? The Salalah Tourism Festival 2015, being held in Oman could be what you are looking for.

 Activities of the festival, organized by Dhofar governorate, kicked off yesterday at the Festival Ground in Salalah under the theme 'Oman: Love and Peace'. The festival will conclude on August 31.

 The festival opened with a grand loyalty march in which, people from different nationalities took part. The festival will include several activities on various religious, social, cultural, sport and entertainment fields.

 The festival, considered one of the major festivals in the region, will also highlight the traditional handcrafts, arts, and games, apart from meals and costumes.

 The festival will also include several exhibitions representing government and private sectors in various cultural, arts, technical and communication sectors.

 The National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) will open a historic documentary exhibition at the Municipality Recreational Centre from July 28 to August 2, as part of the festival.

 Dhofar Governorate is famous for its seasonal weather, locally known as monsoon or “Khareef.” And the place, clothed in lush greenery with hills surrounded by white fog, is a visual delight this season. Many visitors frequent it this time of the year, especially from within Oman and the neighbouring countries. 

 Dhofar Governorate stretches over an area of one third of Oman and forms the Sultanate’s southern part. It includes a distinctive natural diversity where the coast blends with the mountains and the desert in wonderful harmony. The mountains look like a fertile crescent, rising to a height of 1,500 metres and then descending into a flat plain that embraces sandy beaches stretching for hundreds of kilometres.

 When most parts of the Arabian Peninsula witness a rise in temperatures of up to 45°C in summer, in Salalah it never goes above 27°C. While the rest of the Middle East bakes in the June heat, cool winds sweeping in off the Indian Ocean bring mists and rain to this heaven.

 If you are planning a visit, there are daily flights between Muscat and Salalah, as well as other Arab Gulf states.