Call of the mountain - Al Jabal Al Akhdar in summer
Recent weeks saw a big rush of Omani tourists thronging the place. With school holidays currently on in the UAE, the place was teeming with UAE and Saudi vehicles.
According to Satish Chandrasekhar, general manager of Jabal Al Akhdar hotel, the only hotel on the mountaintop, “since summer is a peak season a stream of Omani and UAE nationals made it to Jabal Akhdar to relish the spectacular scenery and salubrious weather. After the completion of the mountain road and the withdrawal of permits, locals and expatriates are converging on the breathtaking Jabal Akhdar like never before.”
Satish claimed that his hotel had 85 per cent occupancy rate during this summer.
“During summer mostly locals and tourists from AGCC countries flock the place while for foreigners the season starts from September until April,” he added.
Satish attributed the upsurge in tourists to the Ministry of Tourism which is evincing keen interest in upgrading the tourism facilities in Jabal Al Akhdar. Tourism is in for a major changeover. The ministry’s action plan for the development of tourism in Jabal Akhdar highlights the need for improvement of facilities at sightseeing places in the region. Two major projects are coming up — eight canopied huts for tourists to sit and enjoy the scenes and provision of toilet facilities.
Another hotel near the Diana Point (this is the place where Princess Diana stayed when she visited the mountains) is getting ready. There are also furnished apartments which offer basic amenities to tourists.
Saeed Al Hoqqani, a Saudi tourist, who was spotted at one of the pomegranate orchards, wants the government and tour operators to organise trips to the farms, like the ones in Wadi Habib, Saiq village, which practise terraced farming in the Jabals, to the tourists. There is also abundant scope for adventure and nature tourism in the hills as some trekking routes have already been identified. There is also ample scope for promoting cultural and village tourism given the unique nature of the indigenous communities inhabiting the hills.
September is an ideal month to visit Jabal Akhdar as pomegranates and walnuts adorn the trees here.
In August, the trees bloom with figs, nectarines, pears, etc.
So, what are you waiting for? Arm your four-wheel drive (a must to travel to Jabal Al Akhdar) and head to the hills to savour the scenery and the exotic fruits.
Times of Oman, August 9th 2008
