This newly refurbished Eid destination will blow you away!

The long weekend is coming up and we have just the place for you to visit. It's close to the UAE and is the perfect destination for a short trip. 
Any guesses where this is?

(Pictures by Sunil K Vaidya)
The Al Hoota Caves in Oman is the only cave in the Gulf country that are open to tourists. It's embellished with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites but it has only one drawback. It floods frequently putting it out of action for months at a time. 

Fun fact? It's estimated to be over 2 million years old, Al Hoota Cave is located at the foot of Jabal Shams, in Al Hamra district. A very popular tourist site among locals and visitors.
The cave is air-conditioned and lit with artificial lights. The staircase leading to the caves is 810 metres above sea level and for some can be quite a taxing trek.
The colours of the cave range from stark white-gold calcium deposits to the dull reds and pale pinks of magnesium and is simply a beautiful place to visit. 
 
Not only will the new cave structure be completely refurbished, but it will also have it's very own electric train service. It will open on September 5. 
There are about 150 items of rock, wood and corals and will provide more details about the history of the cave. A children's play area, a restaurant and a gift shop are also located onsite.
A new website will also be launched on September 5 for online bookings and ticket payment. So if you want to plan your trip, you're going to have to wait until then! 

Before it closed, this cave had around 75,000 visitors a year before it closed for renovation. The cave is now equipped with flood-alert sensors and emergency lights and pathways.
The cave has water springs, underground valleys, and a lake and is 5-kilometres deep, but visitors are only allowed in a distance of 860 metres.

#AlHootaCave #JabalShams #WilayatAlHamra #Oman @Albousidi_Omar @SamiYusuf #YaRasulAllahParthttps://t.co/JNSbQNxtio pic.twitter.com/0TgotfSegO
- Imane Yasamin (@ImaneYasamin) June 27, 2016

5 Caves You Should Check Out In Oman! #AlHootaCave #MajlisAlJin and more!https://t.co/TivYJZ7oiL#oman #travel pic.twitter.com/LGv8Vh9A9r
- Hi Weekly (@HiWeekly_Oman) May 3, 2016

Here are some other amazing caves you can visit around the world.
Son Doong Cave in Vietnam.

Ice Cave Near The Mutnovsky Volcano in Russia (pic by Denis Budko)

By Curated by Sarakshi Rai

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