Stone Town
Fast Facts
- Location:Western side of Zanzibar
- Best Time to Visit: Between June and October
- How to reach: Getting to Stone Town is easy and convenient. Zanzibar Airport is the nearest international airport. Apart from air access, frequent ferries operate to Zanzibar (from Dar-es-Salaam). If you want to go by car, you will have to take the main road (from the airport) to reach Stone Town, located on the Western side of Zanzibar.
- Nearest International Airport: Zanzibar International Airport
If you are visiting Stone Town, you must go to the Dhow Restaurant where you will enjoy a meal on a wooden dhow (boat) in the Stone Town bay. Stone Town, meaning “ancient town” in Swahili, is one of the finest illustrations of the Swahili coastal trading towns of East Africa. It was the old city and cultural hub of Zanzibar and the historical town boasts of its meandering alleys, bustling bazaars, magnificent mosques and grand Arab houses. The best way to explore the town is by walking through it.
Stone Town of Zanzibar comprises much more of attractions than activities and it is well worth to explore the waterfront region as well as Shangani, Vuga, Creek Road and the narrow alleys of Central Stone Town. With numerous attractions around every corner, you will never be short of something to do in this fascinating town.
Some of the must-see attractions in Stone Town include:
- The Arab Fort: Located next to the House of Wonders and built between 1698 and 1701 by the Busaidi group of Omani Arabs, the fort houses numerous shops and an open air theatre.
- Livingstone's House: Built around 1860 for Sultan Majid, it is famous for Dr. David Livingstone who lived here before starting his last journey to the mainland interior.
- The Market: The market area, a lively place where everything under the sun is bought and sold, is really a great place to visit.
- The Old Dispensary: The 4-storey Old Dispensary, presently known as the Stone Town Cultural Center, served as a dispensary during colonial times. It is one of the finest specimens of Stone Town buildings that have been restored.
- The Palace Museum: Originally known as the Sultan's Palace, it was built in the late 1890's for members of the Sultan's family. It became the official residence of the Sultan of Zanzibar in 1911 and in 1994 the palace was transformed into a museum, devoted to the history of Zanzibar's Sultans.
- The Peace Memorial Museum: Housing separate sections on archaeology, early trade, slavery, palaces, mosques, sultans, explorers, missionaries, colonial administrators, traditional crafts and household items, stamps, coins, fishing and clove cultivation, the museum epitomizes diverse history of Zanzibar.
- The House of Wonders: The large square-shaped building, surrounded by tiers of pillars and balconies and topped by a huge clock tower, was built in 1883 as a ceremonial palace for Sultan Barghash. It was the first building in Zanzibar to have electric light and an electric lift.
Stone Town is an ideal paradise for the scuba divers. The popular dive sites near Stone Town include Pange, Bawe, Great Northern and others. All of them are easily accessible with a short boat ride from downtown Stone Town.
Stone Town is a good place to collect souvenirs such as jewelry, colorful clothes, beaded leather shoes and wood carvings. It is also the starting point for a Spice Tour to the surrounding countryside and offers an opportunity to get acquainted with another aspect of Zanzibar other than old houses and beaches. There is a wide selection of eateries serving the fine Swahili cuisine, and some local and international bars.
Because of diverse colonial and Islamic influences, Stone Town has a perfect combination of eastern and western influences, different from mainland Tanzania. Huge number of travelers comes to Zanzibar to relax on the white-sand beaches, swim in the deep blue Indian Ocean and explore the hidden alleys of ancient Stone Town.
Related Links :
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=yXvAJyG99KQ: For a comprehensive view of the Stone Town in Zanzibar, along with its major attractions and significant landmarks, click on this link!
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