Wadi Al Hoqain in the Wilayat of Rustaq is in its full glory thanks to the recent heavy rains brought by the low pressure over Arabian sea. About a 2 hour drive away from Muscat, Wadi Al Hoqain is popular among the people for its cascading cool waters. If you are driving from the capital, Muscat, then you need to take a left turn at Al Suwaiq roundabout to Al Rustaq City, where there is Rustaq Fort, Wadi Bani Awf, and Qasra Museum.
On your way, you will pass by Royal Oman Air force base as well. Wadi Al Hoqain is distinguished by its rock formations that can store and conserve water for long periods.
After the recent rains, many people headed to the site for a refreshing dip and photography, and some families also put up camps on the banks of the wadi for barbecue.
Wadi Al Hoqain attracts tourists throughout the year due to the perennial flow of water. "It is necessary to improve the quality of services in this Wadi due to the large number of tourists from different countries of the world,”,locals told the Observer.
The competent authorities have set up a number of sign boards on maintaining cleanliness of this tourist site.The guiding panels also advise the importance of observing safety procedures while swimming to avoid any accidents.These waterfalls feed Aflaj, the aqueducts that can transport water over long distances."We are happy with the amount of rain during the past days. This water will reduce the severity of the drought that the region is suffering from. The continuous flow of the Aflaj helps us in getting good agricultural crop during this season,” they said. Farmers in the area sought a dam to conserve rainwater which otherwise ends up in the sea. This would help agriculture and thereby enhance crop yields.
TEXT & PHOTO BY YAHYA AL SALMANI
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