Ancient City of Qalhat

Qalhat was the second city of the kingdom of Hormuz and one of the principal ports of the Indian Ocean between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries, handling horses, dates and goods moving between Arabia, Persia, India and China; Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta both described it. It declined after earthquake damage and a Portuguese attack in 1508. What survives is a walled site on a coastal terrace cut by wadis, with foundations of houses, streets, cisterns and a necropolis, and the standing Bibi Maryam mausoleum, a domed tomb attributed to a woman who governed the city. It was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2018 and access is controlled, with visits at set times.

What you actually see

• Bibi Maryam mausoleum - the standing domed tomb above the site.
• The city foundations - streets, houses and cisterns on the terrace.
• The defensive wall - the enclosure around the settlement.
• The coastal setting - the terrace above the sea north of Sur.

When to go

October to April; the coast is very hot and humid in summer. Access is at set times with a guide, so check the current arrangements before travelling. Mornings are cooler on the open site.

Honest expectations

Access is controlled and independent wandering is not permitted; visits run to a schedule. Almost everything is at foundation level. There is no shade on the terrace. The mausoleum is the only substantial standing structure.

Nearby

Sur lies south; Wadi Tiwi and Wadi Shab are north.