Majlis Al Jinn roughly translates to the ‘meeting place of the jinn’ in English. This is one of the largest and most mysterious ancient caves in Oman. And now it is open for adventure tourists to visit. With an interesting name, we are here to tell you all about this beautiful natural gem in Oman.
Majlis Al Jinn Is In Oman
Majlis Al Jinn is not just a cave. As mentioned by Muscat Daily, this natural wonder is where millions of years of natural history merge. All of this is beneath the rough and majestic mountains of Oman. With towering walls, glittering minerals, crystals and centuries-old stalagmites standing guard, it’s truly a whimsical place that adventure enthusiasts would want to explore. With rays of sun entering through the main entrance, the cave chambers are truly fascinating for geo enthusiasts.
A History Of Strict Permissions
However, Majlis Al Jinn was not always open to tourists. Previously, one needed the ministry’s permission, and they too were only granted to experienced explorers. It used to be an open natural space. Now, with the Majlis Al Jinn project transforming the site into an organised adventure destination, it has introduced safety barriers, specialised platforms and trained guides along with high-end safety measures. All of this ensures tourists can enjoy a safe experience in this underground world.
Truly regarded as a living geological wonder, rainwater from surrounding mountains often finds its way into the cave. As a result, the cave floor is often wet! The massive chamber covers an area of about 320 m in length and 225 m in width. With an awe-inspiring underground space, the cave chamber has two entrances. One of these is near the main platform, and it has a depth of about
150 m. There is another narrow opening, which extends about 160 m.
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More About The Cave Chamber
This cave chamber is only accessible through a free descent from one of the three vertical entrances. Coming to the history of the cave chambers, it was discovered in June 1983 by Americans, W. Don Davison, Jr. (nickname: D2) and his wife, Cheryl S. Jones. Don. After asking around, they found out from the Omanis living in the area that they did not really have any names for any of the holes on the plateau. So, the latter decided to give the cave its name after referring to the Omani belief that jinns live in caves.
This cave is located in the remote area of the Selma Plateau, which is about 1,380 m above sea level. To make it easier for you to visualise, this is about 100 kilometres south-east of Muscat. It is one of the 10 largest cave chambers in the world in terms of surface area. However, it’s worth noting that with every new discovery, the list tends to change.
So, with this now open for people, it’s the perfect thing to experience for adventure enthusiasts
Cover Image Courtesy: majlisaljinncave.com