12 Nov INTRODUCING DOHA; A CITY OF DELIGHTFUL CONTRASTS!
Qatar brings to mind images of opulence and glitz, of an Arabic oasis with muted colors, dust and sand. But what presents is a modern city sitting on the precipice of its global discovery. Today, the excitement in the air is palpable, as Qatar moves towards its grand unveiling; the moment it has been preparing a lifetime for!
Doha, it’s gorgeous metropolitan capital, is a city of wonderful contrasts. On one side you will find incredible architecture, stunning skyscrapers that astonish, ancient souks with winding lanes and modern art galleries. There are acclaimed Michelin star restaurants, delightful local cafes with stunning and delicious street food that could easily rival the best restaurants in the world! And to top it all there are local markets and gorgeous malls, both which would satiate even the most avid shopper!
While planning a trip to Doha, you can easily count five days of undiluted fun. Either by simply relaxing in one of its many resorts, going to the dessert safari or strolling through the Doha Corniche. Travelling to Doha, you could unwind, explore, binge eat or simply dance at one of its many nightclubs! The multitude of options, each distinctive provides a travel experience that would easily surpass any holiday!
Stroll down the Doha Corniche
Ideally, while making your way from the airport one of the first sights that you might see is the cornice. The 4.3 mile promenade along the bay has the water on side, plenty of shops, cafes on the other. It provides breathtaking views of the city ahead, allowing you the marvel at the various skyscrapers, all of different shapes, sizes and character!
The Souq Waqif and Katara Culture Village
Both, the Souq Waqif and the Katara Cultural Village are totally different to each other but they present the perfect diverse version of Doha. Souq Waqif is right out of Arabian Nights. A maze of shops made out of mud, bamboo, palm fronds its been there for over 100 years! There are you will find different areas for gold, spices and even falcons! The best place to see the locals in their element is at the Souq Waqif!
The opposite of Souq Waquif is the hip and uber trendy Katara Cultural Village. The hub for all art lovers it is where you will find the stunning blue mosque, the majestic Katara Amphitheatre and the SNAN Food Hall. Scattered around you will find amazing murals and sculptures like the Gandhi’s Three Monkeys by Subodh Gupta, The Force of Nature II by Lorenzo Quinn etc. At the end don’t forget to grab a meal or at least a quick coffee at Boho Social or at one of its many restaurants!
The Dessert Safari
Located on the border of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, there is the majestic Inland Sea. There are only two places in the world where the sea meets the dessert and Qatar is one of them! How rare a sight and experience it is to go dune bashing, sand boarding on moment and then immediately go jump into the sea! Moreover, in some camps you can also choose to stay in the night in dessert and see the sunrise!
The Al Shaqab Equestrian Center
In a truly unique experience watching the pure-breed Arabian horses at Al Shaqab Equestruian center is something that must not be missed. You can truly watch how the champion horses are trained, and how they are housed. Their quarters complete with swimming pools, saunas, fully functional gym etc. will leave you wishing you could live that life.
Visit the Museums
Museums might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but in Doha they are a breathtaking revelation. The National Museum designed by Jean Nouvel has a facade dominated by white and is composed of elaborately designed shapes and lines resembling a dessert rose. Once inside, the museum interacts and provides you will the information about the history and future of Qatar. Similarly, the other photographed museum is that of Museum of Islamic Art. It is a collection of Islamic artifacts from different countries provides a stunning view of the Doha Skyline as a bonus!
Perhaps, everything in Doha is a must do! You must visit the Pearl and marvel at the scale of its buildings, shop at the galleries Lafayette, visit the torch tower and post Football World Cup 2022 perhaps even visit the iconic stadiums!
At the pace at which Qatar is progressing, it is obvious that it is going to be the destination on everyone’s list in the next few years! But perhaps to catch the early bird, is seeing it now comes with the unique bragging right of setting the trend!