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Photo: Paolotacchi, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
One of five aflaj, gravity-fed irrigation systems which are collectively listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this falaj has been in operation since at least 500 CE, although it is believed a similar irrigation system has been used in the area since 2500 BCE. A pleasant park has been created around one section of the falaj, and makes an ideal spot for a picnic.
The Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman are ancient water harvesting, transportation, storage and distribution systems from AD 500 located in the Omani regions of Dakhiliyah, Sharqiyah and Batinah. They represent an ancient type of Middle Eastern irrigation system with a history going back 5,000 years in that region. One type is associated with a water system known as qanat or kariz, originating from Persia and present there and in countries of the Arabian Peninsula near Oman. Aflaj systems may include an underground horizontal section accessed by vertical shafts, which collects water from the aquifer by using the same technology as the Iranian qanat systems. They always include surface channels for transport and distribution.
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This lively souq has separate sections for vegetables, meat, and pottery. The eastern sections are the most atmospheric as they have not yet been renovated.
Built in 1668 by Imam Sultan bin Saif al Ya'rubi, this imposing fort is one of Oman's most-visited national monuments. In the early 1950s the large round tower of the fort was bombed by the British Royal Air Force during the revolt. It houses a museum, and from the tower there are good views of Nizwa and the surrounding date plantations.
Be there at around 07:30 and you can enjoy the last hour of the goat market. Business is brisk with a lot of shouting, haggling and handslaps. Truly Arabian and wonderful.
A long stretch of the old wall has been rebuilt, passing old homes and palm groves, as well as sleek, modern cafes and restaurants. Day provides good views over the city and in the evening string lights illuminate the alcoves of the wall and the street below.
Opened in 2023, the building itself has won multiple architectural awards. Exhibits cover chronological events from the formation of Oman’s land and early human settlement through to the development of the modern sultanate and its vision for the future of the country. Includes many interactive elements, worth budgeting 2-4 hours to experience fully.