Bibi Maryam Mausoleum, Ash Sharqiyah Governorate, Oman
The tomb of Bibi Maryam, also known as ‘The Mausoleum of Lady Maryam’, is located just next to the highway connecting Muscat and Sur on a hill overlooking palm trees and what would have been the town.
Some believe the King of Hormuz, Bahauddin Ayez, built the tomb in the 13th century in honour of his wife Bibi Maryam. Others say it is the site of a mosque Lady Maryam built herself, or is simply her final resting place.
Whatever the truth, the building with its dome eroded away by the sands of time has a mystical air about it. One can almost feel the history seeping through the stone. If those walls could talk, the stories it would tell of ancient Oman would be fascinating.
In its time, it must have been an impressive building. The shrine measures almost 30m long and 25m deep, with a basement or underground corridor beneath the shrine.
Epic Oman Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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