Nakhal Fort

Nakhal fort sits on an outcrop of rock at the edge of the Western Hajar, and the builders worked with the stone rather than levelling it: the walls follow the contours of the rock, the floors step to match it, and in places the natural boulder forms part of the wall. The present structure is largely of the seventeenth century with earlier foundations and nineteenth-century additions, restored in the 1990s. Rooms are furnished to show how the wali and his household lived, and the towers give views over the date plantations below and out across the Batinah plain to the sea. The hot springs at Ain A'Thawwarah are a short distance away at the foot of the wadi.

History

The fort, also known as Husn Al Heem, was home at times to the imams of Wadi Bani Kharous and of the Ya'arubah dynasty; Omani builders reconstructed it in the 17th century to guard the oasis and nearby trade routes. Its present gateway and towers were added in 1834 and are attributed to Imam Said bin Sultan, and the fort was fully renovated in 1990 (Wikipedia, Nakhal Fort).

What's there

• Walls on bare rock - the fort built onto and around the outcrop.
• Furnished rooms - the reconstructed living quarters of the wali.
• The tower views - the palm oasis and the Batinah plain from the top.
• The date oasis - the plantations immediately below the walls.

When to go

October to April; summer on the Batinah is very hot and humid. Mornings are best for light and heat. The fort keeps daytime hours with a Friday closure or late opening.

Things to know

Restoration was thorough and much of the fabric is modern. Interpretation is limited. Stairways are steep and uneven, following the rock. It is a stop of an hour or two rather than a half day.

Nearby

Ain A'Thawwarah springs are close; Rustaq lies west.

Key facts