The famous historian and archivist Mary Ritter Beard has aptly quoted “Travel is more than seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” She may have said this a century ago, but it still seems true. The journey, for an ardent traveller is always a life- changing experience. As much as the journey is important in a traveller’s life, the destination holds equal importance. Every new place you visit teaches you new things. Every new location you visit gives you a different experience.
No matter where you live, everyone dreams of seeing the world. Everyone wishes to experience, God’s marvelous creations as well as the man-made wonders firsthand. Every continent has its own charming destinations which lure the tourists from across the globe. Some places are frequented by tourists while some remain unacknowledged. Some destinations are so fulfilling that they provide everything that a traveller may be looking for; ranging from places of historical importance to new age development, from cool hill stations to warm humid beaches, from lush green forests to sandy deserts and of course excellent shopping zones.
Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is a holidaymaker’s paradise. It had been a common misconception that the privilege of visiting Dubai is only for the rich and the famous. The Dubai Government is painstakingly trying to change this idea and is encouraging tourists of all status and nationalities to visit Dubai. A lot of destination management companies in Dubai assist you in chalking out the finer details of your travel. So it is easy to plan a trip to Dubai and certainly a reason to add this destination to your “must visit” bucket list.
Dubai offers the avid traveller a wide variety of options to choose from. Whether you are travelling alone or with your family, there are activities and attractions to satisfy visitors of all age groups.
Although most of Dubai is a modern technological wonder, it also has much in store for those who are interested in visiting places of historical and cultural importance. The Dubai Museum is housed in an ancient fort constructed in the eighteenth century. Its exhibits include a myriad display of artifacts like musical instruments and weapons which describe the Arabian life and tradition since the bygone era. The next place worth visiting is the Sheikh Saeed Al Makhtoum House. This too is a museum which was a former residence of Dubai’s previous ruler and gives an insight into the privileged lifestyle of Dubai’s wealthy. Another attraction that a culture lover should pay a visit to is the Jumeirah Mosque which is Dubai’s largest place of worship and boasts of a magnificent architecture.
Next comes the fun part in Dubai. There is no dearth of entertainment for visitors in Dubai. You may start your spree by visiting the “Mall of the Emirates”. The best word to describe it would be huge. An entire day can easily be spent inside the mall with something for everyone to do. Starting with a multiplex cinema, a theme park, a giant aquarium and underwater zoo it also houses a huge ice rink and a sprawling ski park named “Ski Dubai”. Imagine the astonishment of your friends when you tell them of your skiing experience in Dubai- a land better known for its dessert! The cherry on the top of this amazing treat that the mall offers is the “Dubai Fountain “with regular shows every evening. Besides there are a variety of restaurants that serve you cuisines from all over the world. Another place worth a visit is the Ibn Battuta Mall which is an architectural marvel. It has separate wings named after different regions of the world visited by Ibn Battuta and designed like them respectively.
The Palm Jumeirah is the world- famous artificial group of islands created by using reclamation land. At its apex stands the “Atlantis Resort”. It has numerous restaurants and a nightclub but the star attraction is “Aquaventure” a world class water park.
The next big attraction is “Burj Khalifa” the tallest building in the world to date. It stands majestically with over 150 floors. It is a modern day architectural marvel, with a graceful design. The skyscraper accommodates several residential, corporate and hotel suites. The observation deck at the 124th level called “At the Top” is a feature not to be missed. It treats you with breathtaking views of the city and the elevator ride up to it takes less than a minute’s time! The Burj Khalifa Park surrounds the tower in several acres of lush green land. The Dubai Fountain is the cherry on the top of the treat since this attraction offers you with regular shows every evening. Illuminated by over 6000 colored light projectors, it consists of water jets shooting up to a height of 150 meters to the tunes of classical and contemporary Arabic music.
Dubai is the shoppers’ paradise. From the souks or the old markets to the newer and plush malls, Dubai has a lot in store for shopping enthusiasts. Dubai government also organizes a shopping festival – the biggest shopping and entertainment extravaganza of the Middle East, every year which attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world. At the old gold souk you can browse through and purchase solid gold jewelry at leisure. The markets have several local exotic items like spices and perfumes to choose from.
The city of Dubai has an impressive shoreline along the Marina and the Dubai creek. A walk along the beach at night time offers magical views of the city lit up by the colorful electric lighting and is highly refreshing to the eyes. Several companies run “Dhow” cruises on the Marina and Dubai creek. They are basically large floating restaurants where you can enjoy your breakfast or a high tea while enjoying the gulf breeze. They are also popular among the wealthy for hosting private parties. You can also try a ride on board an “Abra”.
A trip to Dubai is incomplete if you miss out a visit to the desert. The desert has always held a place of honor in a tourists mind visiting Dubai. The desert has an unconventional charm and a certain mystique to it. We have been entertained by the Arabian Desert night’s stories since our childhood. Several travel operators offer desert safari packages to the tourists with a wide variety of desert attractions like free camel rides and photo opportunities in traditional Arabic outfits. You also get a henna tattoo done and experience sheesha smoking. You may also take a quad bike ride and go explore the tall golden sand dunes and the rich sunset. At night under the stars you may enjoy a scrumptious buffet spread accompanied by belly dancing and Arabic music.
A visit to Dubai is full of excitement and thrill for travelers of all age groups. Depending on your schedule you may be able to enjoy some or all of the above mentioned locales and round off your tour by visiting the neighboring Emirati City of Abu Dhabi. The city is still evolving and every few years the local government keeps adding a new spectacular site worth visiting. Due to the adverse climatic conditions the general life in Dubai is difficult. Yet the authorities make all possible efforts to make the experience of visiting Dubai a memorable one for all the guests. Thus Dubai proves to be a must see location on every travelers’ map for many more years to come.