- Address: Al Bahri Rd, Muscat, Oman
One of the oldest defensive structures in the capital of Oman is called the Fort Al-Jalali. It rises on a rock, offers visitors a large and interesting exposition of weapons and still has an important strategic and military significance.
Location:
One of the oldest defensive structures in the capital of Oman is called the Fort Al-Jalali. It rises on a rock, offers visitors a large and interesting exposition of weapons and still has an important strategic and military significance.
Location:
Fort Al-Jalali is located in the harbor of the Old City of the Sultanate of Oman- Muscat , near the residence of Sultan Qaboos and on the east side of the Al-Alam Palace .
History of creation
Fort Al-Jalali was built in the late 16th century by the Portuguese to protect the harbor after Muscat twice plundered the Ottoman troops. According to one version, its name originated from the phrase "Al Jalal", which in translation means "great beauty". According to another version, the name of the defensive structure was given by the name of the Persian ruler Jalal-shah.
In the first half of the 18th century, during the civil wars, Al-Jalali was captured twice by the Persians, who made significant changes to the structure. Then there was a time when the fort served as a refuge for members of the royal family, and in the twentieth century until the year of 1970 Al Jalali was the main prison of Oman. After that, the fort was rebuilt, and since 1983 the Museum of Cultural History of Oman has functioned here. Entry to it is allowed only to foreign officials arriving in the Sultanate on a visit.
What is interesting about Al-Jalali?
On all sides the fort is surrounded by impregnable walls. You can get inside Al-Jalali only through the harbor, climbing a steep staircase to the top of the cliff. There you will see the only entrance to the defensive structure. A remarkable exhibit is kept near it - a huge book in a gold cover, in which entries were made about visiting the fort by the most important guests.
As soon as tourists get to the gate of Al-Jalali, their gaze opens the courtyard, planted with trees, from here there is a passage to several rooms and buildings located on different levels. There were also dark rooms here - they were the place of imprisonment.
The system of strategic defense of Al-Jalali fortress is:
- Stairs leading to different levels, rooms and towers. At the end of the network of stairs and narrow aisles there is a deadlock-trap, provided here in case the enemy breaks the first line of defense and gets inside the fortress .
- Heavy wooden doors, supplied with dangerous iron spikes.
Inside the fortress there is a rather impressive collection of guns, trailed ropes for shooting muskets, old muskets and guns. Also in the museum halls of the fortress there are ancient royal decorations, ceremonial weapons, everyday objects, ceramics and illustrations of the times of the Portuguese conquests in Muscat.
An amazing view of the fort of Al-Jalali opens from the mountain, located to the south of the fortress.
On the other side of the bay you can visit Al Jalali fort fortress, which used to be called Mirante, and later was renamed Al Mirani.
How to get there?
The Fort Al-Jalali can be reached from the residence of Sultan Qaboos or the Al-Alam Palace, located very close by. There is also a road from the Zavavi Mosque .