We Love Oman: Bahla, an outstanding example of a fortified oasis settlement

The city of Bahla lies 25 kilometres away from Nizwa, and is famed in Oman for its pottery making. The inhabitants of the city were also among the ones who mastered the use of the Falaj system, the ancient Omani practice of transporting water from natural reservoirs to agricultural areas where crops were cultivated.

Bahla Fort is situated at the foot of the Jebel Akhdar highlands in Oman and is a UNESCO-listed fort.The fort underwent massive restoration efforts and reopened in 2012.  According to UNESCO, “ Bahla is an outstanding example of a fortified oasis settlement of the medieval Islamic period, exhibiting the water engineering skill of the early inhabitants for agricultural and domestic purposes. The pre-gunpowder style fort with rounded towers and castellated parapets, together with the perimeter wall of stone and mud brick technology demonstrates the status and influence of the ruling elite.”

In terms of the history and presence of Bahla, UNESCO said, “The falaj system and water course on which the settlement depends, together with the historic routes linking the settlement to other towns in the interior, extend far beyond its boundary. Despite some urban development in the late 20th century and early 21st century, Bahla remains prominent in the desert landscape.
“Its continued prominence within the landscape and the visual approaches are vulnerable to community development and tourism requirements,” they added. “Maintaining the surveillance role of the fort in relation to the souq, the surrounding settlement and the gateways will similarly depend on careful management of development within the property.”