Nizwa Oman was the capital of the Sultanate of Oman in the early ages of Islam, and it was also known for its intellectual activity, which is attributed to Omani scholars, jurists, and historians, so it bore the title (the courtyard of Islam). The site of Nizwa is characterized by its proximity to the current capital, Muscat, as it is 164 km away from it. There are also many cities and villages in the state of Nizwa Oman, the most important of which are the city of Nizwa and Al Jebel Al Akhdar. The city’s population is approximately 70 thousand people, and it is a city that forms a mixture of heritage and culture. And civilization as well, and this is what made Nizwa one of the most important tourist destinations in Oman, as Nizwa is considered one of the most important regions in Oman because of its geographical location that connects the most important regions in the Sultanate.
Information about Nizwa Oman
Nizwa Oman is the regional center in Oman, which is famous for its historical castle, forts, towers, and ancient mosques, as well as its markets and style of buildings. Below we will present the most important information about it:
- Nizwa dates back to four thousand years BC and is considered the oldest Omani city. It was inhabited by the Persians in the past, and some of its orchards still bear Persian names today.
- Nizwa is located in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate and is its largest city, specifically on the outskirts of Jabal Al Akhdar. It is one of the largest areas for palm trees in Oman.
- The climate of Nizwa is hot in summer and cold in winter. While the Jebel Al Akhdar region, the climate is moderate throughout the seasons of the year.
- Several schools in Nizwa contributed to the scientific and cultural growth of the region, including the Nizwa School and the Rustaqiyah School.
- The late Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Saeed, called it (the city of science and heritage) because it is a center for science and civilization, and it is also considered an area for preserving human heritage. At the University of Nizwa, there are no less than 6,000 ancient manuscripts preserved in them.
- Nizwa was a commercial meeting place and a thriving commercial market between the countries of East and West Asia.
- Nizwa is distinguished by its markets, and the livestock and cow market is the largest, as well as the meat and vegetable market, the fish market, the traditional Nizwa market for handicrafts, and the spice market, all of which are located in the city center.
What is Nizwa Oman famous for?
In searching for information about Nizwa Oman, we find that it is famous for many handicrafts, traditional and heritage industries, and gold and silver artifacts such as jewelry.
Likewise, the tanning of leather flourishes, the manufacture of (mattresses) on which food is placed, and its covers are known as the sheets, the pouch in which grains and legumes are stored, and the envelope in which provisions are preserved such as rice, sugar, dates, and others.
While Nizwa is world famous for distilling high-quality rose water, in addition to the traditional sweets that are exported outside the country.
The best seasons of tourism in Nizwa Oman
Like other countries in the Arab world, summer is the season for the end of schools and therefore the tourism season is in the summer, but the summer season also remains the busiest during the times of the year. Tourists can come in the summer or in early October when autumn begins and the weather begins to improve somewhat, and the city can be reached by public or private transportation, which is abundant from the capital, Muscat.
The most important tourist attractions in Nizwa
One of the most attractive things for tourists in the Sultanate after visiting Muscat, the capital, is visiting the tourist attractions in Nizwa Oman, as well as the famous historical areas in it, as Nizwa is full of cultural landmarks, and the most famous of these areas are as follows:
1- Jebel Al Akhdar
- It is one of the most important tourist areas in the region, due to its picturesque nature and the presence of trees such as fruit trees and palm trees.
- The rainfall in it reaches 300 mm every year, and it is one of the high mountain peaks in the Jebel Hajar range. It is home to four ancient forts, the most important of which is the first Bahla Fort, which is the only castle in Oman included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
2- Nizwa Fort
- This castle was built in the middle of the sixteenth century AD and is located in the center of the old city, as it includes tall towers and ancient walls.
- The castle gives us an idea of the history of the Sultanate of Oman, and it is considered one of the most visited places in Oman and the city of Nizwa Oman.
- The castle is located in the Jebel Al Akhdar region, and it is one of the oldest castles in the country. It is distinguished by its huge circular shape buried in the dirt. Its height is 24 meters, its outer diameter reaches 43 meters, and its inner diameter reaches 39 meters. It contains seven water wells, and some prisons that used to serve Criminals have different punishments for the type of crimes they commit.
- The castle was founded in 1660 AD by Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya’rubi, and its construction lasted 12 years. It includes many complex labyrinths, and this imam was famous for expelling the Portuguese outside the borders of Oman.
- When visiting the castle, it is necessary to visit the nearby traditional Nizwa Souq, which is famous for its thriving handicraft industries.
3- Nizwa Souq
- It is located near the castle. It has many departments and everything you need for shopping. It is also an important archaeological place for tourists to see the Omani heritage as well as buy souvenirs and gifts.
4- Falaj Daris
- One of the important tourist areas in Nizwa Oman, it is the largest falaj in the Sultanate, as it supplies water to the neighboring areas, and it is also one of the ancient and important archaeological sites.
- The word falaj means a water channel or a small river, and the falaj was known by the Persians in 2500 BC, and these small water channels were used to irrigate orchards, and some other uses.
- Falaj Daris is the largest falaj in Oman, with a total of 4,112 falajes. The people of Nizwa still preserve this old falaj. It is currently located in a public park in the Al-Murafa area and is called Daris Falaj.
5- Nizwa Grand Mall
- It is the largest mall in the city of Nizwa Oman, and it contains many shops, as it includes approximately 80 stores.
- It also includes restaurants, cafes, and other places suitable for children.
6- Tanuf village
- It is a small village located near Bahla and Nizwa.
- It includes many important archaeological monuments, and it also contains a valley with fresh and drinkable water springs, which are packaged within laboratories and bear the Tanuf watermark for fresh water.
7- Jabal Shams
- The height of Jabal Shams is about 3010 meters above sea level, so it is one of the ten highest mountains in the Arab countries, and it is one of the most important natural landmarks in the Sultanate of Oman.
9- Al Hoota Cave
- Al-Hoota Cave is one of the most beautiful caves in the mountainous village of Al-Hoota in the state of Nizwa Oman, and it is one of the most exciting places in Nizwa.
- The cave is known for its distinctive atmosphere that mixes with cold and humidity even in the summer.
