A Wadi, meaning a valley in Arabic, formed by fast rushing streams, is predominantly seen in Israel, Morocco and a number of other Middle Eastern countries. These Wadis were often used by travellers to traverse countries and reach other cities with the assistance of camels. A Wadi can also contain water or even a small stream when there is heavy rain fall. While Wadis are seen across the Middle East, Wani Bani Khalid is noteworthy for its beauty. Located around two hundred kilometres from Muscat, it is not a day trip that can be completed from a Muscat based hotel in Oman. Therefore, many tourists seek to indulge in a desert night camp to explore the Wadi and return to Muscat a few days later.
Located in the Sharqiyah region, Wadi Bani Khalid, unlike most of its kind, maintains a steady flow of water. Because of this, and also the shape of the valley, water accumulates in large pools and reflects the surroundings making for a rather picturesque view. The Wadi is quite large as well as it covers a large extent of low land areas as well as parts of the surrounding mountains.
Tourists who are gearing up for an adventure in Oman will be thrilled to discover that the Wadi Bani Khalid is also home to some interesting caves, including an underground chamber of the Sultanate known as Kahf Maqal. However, this adventure is not for the faint hearted for it requires a great deal of stamina, especially given the warm climate.
Nevertheless, tourists who wish to merely explore the valley can enjoy the fresh water springs known as Ain al Sarooj and Ain Hamouda and take in the natural beauty of the area. Given its attraction to tourists, a souvenir can be purchased from the shop in Badaa, a close by village, to remember the valley and the excursion.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Shazzana Hamid is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary. Disguised as Lavinia Woolf she writes of the exhilarating and enchanting.Google+