Taqah Castle, Salalah (2024) - Images, Timings

Taqah Castle, Salalah Overview

Being one of the most popular Castles to visit in Oman, the comparatively newly built Taqah castle is an architectural gem. Situated in a beautiful fishing village of Taqah (in the region of Dhofar), the Castle looks gorgeous with its surrounding pristine white-sand beaches. Being built in the early 19th century, the Castle is well preserved and is now known to be one of the best fort museums in Oman.

The Taqah Castle is different as it used to be a private residence for the tribal leader Sheikh Ali bin Taman Al Ma’shani (who was the grandfather of the mother of Sultan Qaboos). The Taqah Castle houses posh interiors, bewitching antiques, magnificent exhibition level artworks and crafts that showcase the eminent Omani culture.

Things to See at the Taqah Castle

There are numerous artworks and antiques to see at Taqah Castle, but the best ones are which portrays the rich Omani culture. It gives us an in-depth feel on how these people used to live, their social life and their survival skills. Let’s take a look at some of these.

The Taqah castle has two floors and a terrace. The ground floor is occupied by a reception area, household, weapon storage area and a prison area.
You can view a wide array of antique rifles displayed on a wall which portrays the courage and war-skills of these people in the guard room.
The second section of the Castle has two divisions. On the left side we have an exhibition of antique household items and on the right side was a weapon storage area.
On the way up the stairs to the first floor, you would find a firewood storage area.
As you leave the bedroom, you will find a common corridor which was used as a tea or snacks gathering family place. You can spot teapots and casseroles there.
The last room on the first floor is a private room which was used as a business suite for discussions and important meetings.
Lastly, there is an open balcony which was used as a resting area to spend some quality time (by the Governor’s family).

Food and Beverages

After exploring the beauty of this place and of course, the Castle, you might even want to explore the menu. Though there is a supermarket nearby where you can look for almost any kind of dishes, yet we have listed out some specific restaurants, whose food is a must-try.