On the list of “must see” places in Muscat: The Grand Mosque. This time I brought my better camera.
That’s my mom, properly covered.
I wore pants this time so I didn’t shock anyone with a glimpse of my ankle
The detailed carving on the giant doors is incredibly intricate and covers every square inch
The inside of the big gold dome. I can’t properly describe how big it is. Until recently, this was the largest chandelier in the world.
Mom said of the mosque, “This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in my entire life.”
Tourists handling the Koran. I was hoping they’d get busted. No such luck.
Close up of the stained glass
This gives some idea of the scale.
One of my favorite parts of the mosque here are all these decorated and carved archways that line the exterior walkways. They are in the style of the mihrab (prayer niche) that is always found in a mosque. The real ones always point toward mecca so the pray-er knows which direction to face.
a close up of the tiny mosaic tiles
They are all made in different styles with different materials — mosaics, glazed ceramics, and precious stones inlaid in marble are a few of the types that I noticed. Like everything else here, the level of detail is over the top.
