Barka

Introducing Barka

The main reason for visiting Barka, 80km west of Muscat, is to see bull-butting. This is where great Brahmin bulls, specially raised by local farmers, are set nose-to-nose in a push-and-shove that supposedly hurts neither party. To get to the bullring by car take the turning for Barka off the Muscat–Sohar Hwy and turn left at the T-intersection in the centre of town. After 3.4km you will see the shallow, concrete ring on your right. Bull-butting rotates from village to village along the Batinah coast on selected weekends. Ask locally to find out when and where, or chance your luck on a Friday between November and March from 4pm to 6pm. There’s no admission charge.

Barka’s fort (admission 500 baisa; 8.30am-2.30pm Sun-Thu) has an unusual octagonal tower. To get there, turn right at the T-intersection and it’s 300m on the left.

Barka’s other point of interest is the 18th-century Bayt Nua’man (admission 500 baisa; 8.30am-2.30pm Sun-Thu), a restored merchant house. The turn-off for the house is signposted off the Muscat–Sohar Hwy, 7km west of Barka roundabout. There’s no public transport to the house.

Barka is famous for its halwa, a unique, laboriously made Omani confection, as distinct from the sesame confection known as halvah, found across the rest of the region. A pot from dedicated halwa shops in town costs from OR3.

There’s nowhere to stay in Barka, but the town makes an easy diversion en route for Sawadi or Sohar.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009