Doha had been quite a frequent destination on many of my transit flights, but never before had I considered it as a destination to explore in itself.
Come 2022 and the whole world turned to Doha to witness one of the biggest events in football history, the FIFA World Cup 2022. From fancy new cities to stadiums that weren’t heard of before, in terms of concept, Qatar got newfound media attention worldwide.
So, in 2023, when I had the chance to visit this unique country, I was more than just excited to check out what the hype was all about and I must say the country did surprise me in most ways!
My trip to Qatar began with a red-eye, Calcutta to Doha flight where we were greeted in Doha by staff from Qatar Airlines’ Al-Maha service that’s personalised in every possible way to make one’s entry into the city an easy one. The best part for Indian travellers? A visa on arrival.
My first stop in the city? The National Museum of Qatar. Designed in the shape of a desert rose crystal that is a speciality of the Qatari landscape, the museum has been designed by architect Jean Nouvel. The design is special as it is composed of sectional discs that interlock and create cavities that protect the space from the desert sun.
It has multiple exhibition sections, ranging from the natural history of Qatar and the Persian Gulf region, an exploration into the life, weaves, food habits and culture of the different tribes that made up Qatar, and more, via a series of audiovisual immersive screens. The interactive space is great for children and adults of all ages.
1. Apart from adventure and thrill, Qatar promises some extraordinary treats from the Middle East. My experience of a full-blown mezze meal at Bayt-Al-Talleh, a Lebanese restaurant in Katara Hills, will always be remembered fondly. The decor represents traditional Middle Eastern home-like features with a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea, indoor as well as outdoor seating, beautiful rugs and upholstery all around.
2. A landmark in Doha, the spiral shaped Fanar building once used to be the largest mosque in the country. Apart from being a mosque, today it has also transformed into a centre for religious, social and cultural education and activities.
4,3- Samples of different formations of the desert rose crystal.
4 Our second stop on day two was Doha Quest, and boy-oh boy was I excited! Themed adventure parks are totally my thing, especially if they’re indoor and fully air-conditioned. With over 30 rides and attractions, there’s something for everyone at Doha Quest. My two favourites? The Magma Blast, a Guinness world record holding ride that’s the world’s tallest indoor drop tower, and the other one is once again a Guiness world-record holder for being the world’s tallest indoor roller coaster, the Epiq Coaster.
5 A segment at the National Museum of Qatar that portrays how water was stored in leather containers to protect it from the heat. 6 An aerial view of the tall towers of Doha Quest.
Day two began early morning with a hearty breakfast at my stay, the Al-Messila Hotel and Resorts, shortly after which we went on for an hour and a half long drive that spanned the city and right into the heart of the Qatari desert to reach the inland sea or Khor Al Adaid. The drive through the white sandy desert was a remarkable experience, with azure blue skies adding to nature’s colour magic. Once we cruised through the dunes, we reached a pristine blue water body which is the inland sea, a natural heritage for the nation.
7 A promising view from the restaurant is that of the Falconry Building in Katara Hills. It is shaped in the form of a falcon’s mask, and falconry is a major sport in the country. Doha boasts of not just a falcon souk, but also has a designated falcon hospital.
8 Another fabulous fun place that we visited was the Lusail Winter Wonderland, an open-air theme park that had food, games, rides and much more. I’m personally a major fan of roller coasters and adventure rides but this one particular ride called Shamal scared me to bits. It straps you on and takes you up to extraordinary heights from where the city of Lusail looks like a dream and then unexpectedly plunges down. Trust me, many screams were heard as we came down.
9 Day three began with a trip to Lusail City, the famed World Cup landmark where Lionel Messi and his Argentinian team lifted the World Cup in 2022. The famous Lusail Stadium, even though currently shut for visits inside, is a sight to behold. The iconic design of the stadium is inspired by traditional Fanar lanterns that are a big part of traditional Qatar architecture.
10 After all that adrenaline rush it was then time to head on to the Villagio Mall, yet another popular landmark in the city. The mall is designed to replicate the city of Venice and has a major artificial waterbody that plies gondolas as an attraction. The mall also has the Gondolania Theme Park which contains a ten-pin bowling centre, a roller coaster as well as one Olympic-size ice skating rink.
11 The mountains on the other end of the inland sea touch the nation of Saudi Arabia.
12 One of the most popular sites for entertainment and fun in the city of Doha is the Souk Waqif. Made in quintessential Qatari architectural style, the old buildings at the souk date back to late Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries. Later on, the original structure was restored and similar additions made to expand the souk, which is a bustling market area with shops selling a plethora of goods ranging from perfumes, artefacts, ethnic wear, spices, sweet treats, pets and more. It is also laden with a multitude of restaurants that span different cuisines.
Another beautiful sight to behold, right in front of the promenade, is the Katara Towers, which is also known as the Crescent Towers. This tower is shaped like a traditionally crossed sword and houses the Fairmont and Raffles Hotels & Resorts. The hotels opened right before the World Cup in 2022.
13 Qatari seas are well-known for their whale shark diving expeditions and this massive whale shark installation at the museum is a homage to the same.