Birkat al Mouz

Birkat al Mouz, the pool of bananas, sits where the Jebel Akhdar road leaves the plain, and the old quarter of Harat al Bilad is a mud-brick village in an advanced state of collapse, with walls, staircases and rooms open to the sky and a few restored houses among them. Below it runs Falaj al Khatmeen, one of the five aflaj inscribed as World Heritage, still carrying water through the plantations of banana, date, lime and mango that give the village its name. A path follows the channel through the gardens, shaded and cool, which is the best part of a visit. Bait al Redidah, a restored fort house, stands at the edge of the old quarter.

What you actually see

• The collapsing mud quarter - Harat al Bilad open to the sky.
• Falaj al Khatmeen - the World Heritage water channel through the gardens.
• Banana and date plantations - the shaded gardens the falaj feeds.
• Bait al Redidah - the restored fort house at the village edge.

When to go

October to March; the interior is severely hot in summer. Morning and late afternoon are best. The garden walk is shaded and cooler than the ruins.

Honest expectations

The old quarter is genuinely unstable and walking through it carries risk. There is no interpretation on site. The gardens are private property and paths run between working plots. Facilities are limited to the village.

Nearby

Jebel Akhdar rises above; Nizwa lies west.