Friday 15 / November / 2024
Yanqul: Gardens filled with trees and a palm oasis at the centre of Yanqul Fort are big attractions for tourists.
Surrounded by orchards on all sides, the towers and houses of the fort or the lofty Bait Al Marah reflect chapters of history and civilisation. Al Bait Al Oud, Al Bait Al Sharqi, Bait Al Marah and Bait Al Basrah are essential facilities of the fort that have inspired many life stories.
The fort is bordered on the south and north by an oasis of palm trees. It is flanked on the west by an old market, which is an ancient art and architecture masterpiece, full of life and a favoured destination for people coming from far and wide.
Hilal bin Said Al-Qatabi from the Tourism Department in the Governorate of A’Dhahirah said that the fort was built during the era of al-Nabahnah, near the ruins of an old fort from the 11th century. It was the last ruling centre of that era and was successively used by eight rulers during past historical periods.
He added that the fort consists of several facilities and buildings. Among them is the morning gate, which is the only entrance to the fort. It is the reception gate, whereby guests enter the fort. The fort also consists of several towers located at the front and which were used for the forward defence of the fort at the time. The fort consists of five houses. They is Al Bait Al Oud, the headquarters of the Sheikh, his entourage and company.
It has its own independent entrance, and also contains several rooms surrounding a tall building with three floors. Al Bait Al Sharqi is adjacent to Al Bait Al Oud, and is used by one of the sons of the Sheikh.
It is located on the southern side of the fort and is a large house consisting of several rooms and facilities that were recently renovated. Bait Al Marah is used as a residence for the military, for storage of supplies and weapons, and is located on the eastern side of the fort.
Bait Al Basrah overlooks the suburb of Basra. Bait Al Basrah, located on the northern side of the fort, is a beautiful house that reflects the beauty of old Omani architecture and reflects the lifestyle of that era.
The Fifth House is the guard house and located near Bait Al Basrah. It is a small place with a number of rooms and is used by the guards of the Sheikh. There are two falajes inside the fort, namely Al Ain and Al Muhaidith. The fort has 46 multi-purpose rooms.
The area of the fort is about 2,500 square metres and it is surrounded by a defensive fence, made up of rifles platforms that are a part of the fort, which has been taken over by the Ministry of Tourism.
Hammad bin Said Al Khatri, director of the Department of Tourism in the Governorate of A’Dhahirah, said the ministry is coordinating with the concerned authorities to restore the fort and add other services, such as holding an exhibition for old heritage tools that abound in the wilayat, and to allow tourists in the fort, adding that the ministry also plans to publish a documentary pamphlet for the facilities, along with appointing tourist guides to provide tourist information to visitors.
