Today was originally set aside for diving, but because the conditions are so bad underwater I have hired my Omani guide again, for a tour to three old fortresses.

The Nakhl Fort is built on top of an isolated, 60 meters high rock, and it looks as though it has grown out of the rock. The large building has six defensive towers, and has its origins in the time of the Persian-Sassanid occupation.

The current Rustaq Fort is built on the foundations of its Persian predecessor. The ruler of the Al-Ya’aruba Dynasty, Nasir bin Murshid, moved his court to Rustaq in 1624. At this time the fortress formed the centre of the country, and was many times the residence of the Imams.

Al-Hazm, a small oasis on the boundary between the Batinah plain and the Hajar mountains, lies amongst green palm trees, and is overlooked by the large Al-Hazm Fort, which was built by Sultan bin Saif in 1708.

www.middleeast.com/oman.htm

www.mofa.gov.om/oman/discoveroman/omanhistory/ALYarubaState

www.omanet.om/english/regions/bathina.asp

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Oman

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hajar_Mountains

www.destinationoman.com/dest2004/art3.htm

www.nizwa.net/oman/explorer/places/jalali/jalali.html

www.nizwa.net/oman/explorer/places/mirani/mirani.html

www.soukofoman.com/alhazimfort.html

www.omantourism.gov.om/Topics/Attractions/Castles.htm

Written on 17.04.2007 at 03:25, Category: Homepage, Images, Knowledge, Photography, Travel, Various.
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