The Manhattan of Emirates
Published in
Hans India News Paper, Hyderabad.
My
visited Abu Dhabi, I was spellbound by the infrastructure of the
second largest city in the UAE built on a T shaped island. It’s hard to believe
as to how much of reclaimed land has been developed. Myriad of beaches, skyscraper building and the
amazing shapes they are built in. Without doubt, I can say that at one glance,
the city reminds you of Manhattan.
My
keen interest in history forced me to visit the breakwater on the cornice where
the Heritage Village is located. More than the history I was fascinated to have
been standing on the reclaimed land. When
I was told, there are more than a dozen islands built on reclaimed land, I
decided to visit at least some of them if not all. Lulu Island is believed to be the oldest so I
decided to visit this 1,000-acre man-made island but to my bad luck, entry was
prohibited due to some development work in progress.
Another
island that got me interested was Yas Island. Although not an automobile
enthusiast, I was told that this island has gained popularity for World’s first
Ferrari Indoor Theme Park and relates the Ferrari story through various
exciting rides and other interactive attractions which I had the opportunity to
experience. I was not yet content with
the Island trips so I opted to visit Bani Yas Island known for its wildlife
sanctuary and is home to nearly 10,000 animals like Arabian Oryx, Gazelles,
Giraffes, Hyenas and Cheetahs. I was advised to visit Saadiyat Island and Al
Futaisi Island also but due to time constraint, I decided to skip them as I had
to cover up other attractions in the city.
I
have seen a lot of old architecture, but I must say that Abu Dhabi boasts some
exquisite architecture. Emirates Palace Hotel which has been built on reclaimed
land is a marvel to view. Visitors are allowed to take a tour and view the
exclusive interior but I believe it is mostly being used for the international delegates
and high dignitaries.
During
the city tour, the sight of a Mosque caught my attention and I stop by to view this
architecture called The Grand Mosque. There is a dress code to enter the
Mosque so I had to content myself by viewing it from outside. One of the workers
stated that it is one of the world’s largest Mosques with the capacity to
accommodate 41,000 worshipers at a time. The mosque features 82 domes and it
has 24 carat gold plated chandeliers inside. There is a carpet which is
believed to be the world’s largest hand knotted carpet. Had I been
appropriately dressed, I would have been lucky to view this. Nevertheless, I
moved on to view some more attractions and realized there was no end to the
fascinating skyscrapers. The city seemed full of glass buildings in various
shapes, sizes and colors. There was a glass building made in the shape of a
coin. There was another one that looked like Pineapple. It was really difficult
for me to assimilate the sight.
Abu
Dhabi culture is very strongly rooted in Islamic traditions but they are
equally tolerant towards followers of other religion. For food enthusiasts, it is pure haven as you
can avail all types of cuisine.
Comments
Post a Comment