Al Alam Palace
| Al Alam Palace | |
|---|---|
قصر العلم | |
Interactive map of Al Alam Palace | |
| General information | |
| Type | Palace |
| Location | JH8V 9V8, Old Muscat, Oman |
| Coordinates | 23°36′58″N 58°35′41″E / 23.6160°N 58.5947°E |
| Owner | Sultan of Oman |
Al Alam Palace (Arabic: قصر العلم Qaṣr al-ʿAlam, "Palace of the Flag") is the ceremonial palace of the Sultan of Oman. It is used for official functions like welcoming foreign dignitaries and heads of state.
Old Palace
Sultan Said bin Sultan had a palace, Bayt al-'Alam, built in the early 1800s on the foundations of the old sea wall between Al-Mirani Fort and Al Jalali Fort built in the 16th century by the Portuguese. The palace was damaged by tribal insurgents in 1895 but Sultan Faisal bin Turki did not have it repaired due to lack of funds. In the 20th century, Sultan Said bin Taimur spent most of his time in Salalah and had the palace locked up. It was demolished in 1971 to make way for the new palace.[1]
Current Palace
The current palace, Qaṣr al-ʿAlam, was commissioned by Sultan Qaboos bin Said and erected in the same place between the two forts. The palace was designed by the Indian architectural firm Shapoorji Pallonji[2] in a flamboyant style,[3] and was completed in 1972.[4] Its façade has gold and blue columns. The inner grounds of the palace are off limits, but members of the public are permitted to stop near the gates and take photographs.[5]
Surrounding area
The palace is located on the north end of a 250-metre (820 ft) long arcaded plaza, facing the National Museum of Oman.[6]
The palace is flanked by the Portuguese-built Al-Mirani and Al-Jalali forts.[7] The modern government buildings in the vicinity are white, with crenellated rooftops and wooden balconies in the traditional Omani style.[8] The palace can also be viewed by boat from the harbour.[9]
Gallery
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Main entrance
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Courtyard
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Sideview
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Gate
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View from the harbor
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Corridor
References
- ^ Peterson, John (2006). Historical Muscat. Brill. ISBN 978-9-0041-5266-3.
- ^ "Political situation in Oman". Arabian Gulf Digital Archives. National Library and Archives of the UAE. 1973. p. 74.
- ^ "Briefing for the visit by the Prince of Wales". National Archives. 1986. p. 22. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Kay, Shirley (1988). Enchanting Oman. Motivate Pub. ISBN 978-1-8606-3085-9.
- ^ Walker, Jenny; Ham, Anthony (1 August 2016). Lonely Planet Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula. Lonely Planet. p. 313. ISBN 978-1-78657-305-6.
- ^ Hasan, Deeba (26 July 2016). "#OmanPride: National Museum of Oman all set to open". Times of Oman.
- ^ Ochs, Peter J. (1 November 1999). Maverick Guide to Oman. Pelican Publishing. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-56554-687-5.
- ^ Thomas, Gavin (17 October 2013). The Rough Guide to Oman. Rough Guides Limited. p. 75. ISBN 978-1-4093-5065-1.
- ^ Darke, Diana (14 November 2013). Oman. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-84162-471-6.