Nizwa ( ar, نِزْوَى, Nizwā) is the largest city in
Ad Dakhiliyah Region in Oman and was the capital of
Oman proper. Nizwa is about (1.5 hours) from
Muscat
Muscat ( ar, مَسْقَط, ) is the capital and most populated city in Oman. It is the seat of the Governorate of Muscat. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the total population of Muscat Governorate was ...
. The population is estimated at around 72,000 people, including the two areas of Burkat Al Mooz and
Al-Jabel Al-Akhdar.
Nizwa is one of the oldest cities in Oman and it was once a center of trade, religion, education and art. Its Jama (grand mosque) was formerly a center for
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ...
ic learning. Nizwa acquired its importance because it has been an important meeting point at the base of the
Western Hajar Mountains. Set amid a verdant spread of date palms, it is strategically located at the crossroads of routes linking the interior with
Muscat
Muscat ( ar, مَسْقَط, ) is the capital and most populated city in Oman. It is the seat of the Governorate of Muscat. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the total population of Muscat Governorate was ...
and the lower reaches of
Dhofar
The Dhofar Governorate ( ar, مُحَافَظَة ظُفَار, Muḥāfaẓat Ẓufār) is the largest of the 11 Governorates in the Sultanate of Oman in terms of area. It lies in Southern Oman, on the eastern border with Yemen's Al Mahrah G ...
thus serving as the link for a large part of the country. Today, Nizwa is a diverse prosperous place with numerous agricultural, historical and recreational aspects. Nizwa is a center for
date growing and is the market place for the area.
Etymology
Historians cannot agree on the origins of the name of the city. Some suggest the name was derived from the Arabic verb ( ar, انزوا) which means being alone. Others say that the city was named after an old water spring.
History
Nizwa was the capital of Oman in the 6th and 7th centuries AD. With its deep connection to the root of Islam, Nizwa possesses a number of renowned mosques, such as
Sultan Qaboos
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
Jama (Friday mosque), So'al Mosque built in the 2nd century AH (9th century AD), Ash-Shawathinah Mosque in Uqr and Ash-Sharja Mosque. There are also Al-Ain Mosque, Ash-Sheikh Mosque and Shuraij Mosque in Tanuf built in 377 AH (around 1000 AD).
A handwritten letter from
Muhammad
Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the mon ...
in 630 asked the locals of the mountain town of Nizwa to convert. The locals then sent a return delegation to
Medina
Medina,, ', "the radiant city"; or , ', (), "the city" officially Al Madinah Al Munawwarah (, , Turkish: Medine-i Münevvere) and also commonly simplified as Madīnah or Madinah (, ), is the Holiest sites in Islam, second-holiest city in Islam, ...
and embraced
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ...
. A tutor was sent by Muhammad to teach the new Muslims of Nizwa the fundamentals of the religion.
Ibn Battuta
Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Battutah (, ; 24 February 13041368/1369),; fully: ; Arabic: commonly known as Ibn Battuta, was a Berber Maghrebi scholar and explorer who travelled extensively in the lands of Afro-Eurasia, largely in the Muslim ...
visited, noting it as "a city at the foot of a mountain, enveloped by orchards and streams, and with fine bazaars and splendid clean mosques."
In the early 1950s, the large round tower of the ancient fort built in the center of the town was bombed and rocketed by the
British Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
, who were called in to assist the then-reigning
Sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it c ...
Said bin Taymour in suppressing a
revolt
Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.
A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...
by leaders of the interior
Imamate of Oman
The Imamate of Oman ( ar, إِمَامَة عُمَان, Imāmat ʿUmān, links=no) refers to a historical state within the ''Oman proper'' ( ar, عُمَان ٱلْوُسْطَى, ʿUmān al-Wusṭā) in the present-day Al Hajar Mountains in S ...
. The conflict was driven by a struggle for shares in Oman's newly discovered oil wealth.
Nizwa has become a more modern city since 1970 under the reign of
Sultan Qaboos
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
. Improvements include connections to Muscat via a two-lane highway, which has increased tourism. Communications have been improved to include broadband access, and the city is home to a substantial hospital. It is also a hub for education including a Technical College, College of Applied Sciences, The University of Nizwa, and the training academy for the
Royal Oman Police. There are now many hotels and tourism is promoted in the area.
Geography and climate
Mountains surround Nizwa from every side and there are some outstanding mountain scenery close by. Nizwa has an
arid climate
The desert climate or arid climate (in the Köppen climate classification ''BWh'' and ''BWk''), is a dry climate sub-type in which there is a severe excess of evaporation over precipitation. The typically bald, rocky, or sandy surfaces in deser ...
under
Köppen's climate classification. In the winter from November until March the climate is pleasant with temperatures as low as 12 C in January. In the summer, the climate is hot and dry with temperatures reaching 45 C in July.
Attractions
The main tourist attractions in the city are Nizwa
Fort
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
, the traditional
Souq and
Falaj
A qanat or kārīz is a system for transporting water from an aquifer or water well to the surface, through an underground aqueduct; the system originated approximately 3,000 BC in what is now Iran. The function is essentially the same acros ...
Daris. In the 1990s, the Jama, the fort and the souq which sit next to each other in the centre were renovated using the same traditional materials. In 1993 Nizwa won the award of 'Organisation of Arab Cities'.
Nizwa Fort
Nizwa fort was built in the 1668 AD by Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya'rubi. It is Oman's most visited national monument. The fort was the administrative seat of authority for the presiding Imams and Walis in times of peace and conflict. The main bulk of the fort took about 12 years to complete and was built above an underground stream. The fort is a reminder of the town's significance through turbulent periods in Oman's long history. It was a formidable stronghold against raiding forces that desired Nizwa's abundant natural wealth and its strategic location at the crossroads of vital routes.
Nizwa Souq
The city, famous for its
handicrafts
A handicraft, sometimes more precisely expressed as artisanal handicraft or handmade, is any of a wide variety of types of work where useful and decorative objects are made completely by one’s hand or by using only simple, non-automated re ...
and agricultural products, has an expansive souq with an array of products. It is one of the most important in the country besides
Muttrah. The souq bustles with vendors selling everything from meat, fish, fruits and vegetables to spices, dates, gold and silverware. Nizwa is renowned for its silver jewelry which is considered to be the best in the country. Its people are masters in Khanjar making (curved dagger), recognised for its distinctive style and patterns. They also make copper ware, coffee pots,
sword
A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...
s, leather goods and
pottery
Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other ceramic materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. Major types include earthenware, stoneware and ...
.
Falaj Daris
Falaj
A qanat or kārīz is a system for transporting water from an aquifer or water well to the surface, through an underground aqueduct; the system originated approximately 3,000 BC in what is now Iran. The function is essentially the same acros ...
Daris (a
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
) is the largest falaj in Oman and is the life maintainer of Nizwa. It provides the surrounding countryside with much needed water for the plantations. Al Ghantuq and Dhoot are two other important falajs in Nizwa. Farming is widely practiced and the town's immense palm farms stretches for eight kilometers along the course of two
wadi
Wadi ( ar, وَادِي, wādī), alternatively ''wād'' ( ar, وَاد), North African Arabic Oued, is the Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley. In some instances, it may refer to a wet (ephemeral) riverbed that contains water ...
s (Kalbouh and Al Abiad). Also in practice are red sugar processing and hide tanning.
Economy
Historically, Nizwa was known for producing
mats from
straw
Straw is an agricultural byproduct consisting of the dry stalks of cereal plants after the grain and chaff have been removed. It makes up about half of the yield of cereal crops such as barley, oats, rice, rye and wheat. It has a number ...
. As of 1920, the city was described as having a "thriving"
metalworking
Metalworking is the process of shaping and reshaping metals to create useful objects, parts, assemblies, and large scale structures. As a term it covers a wide and diverse range of processes, skills, and tools for producing objects on every scale ...
industry.
Education
*
University of Nizwa
The University of Nizwa (UoN) was established in 2002 by the Decree of Sultan Qaboos as the first non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or ...
*University of Technology and Applied Sciences
*Indian School Nizwa, a high school for international students with an Indian majority
*Pakistan School Nizwa, a co-educational Pakistani school, founded in 1994 under the patronage of Embassy of Pakistan
Transport
A short drive from Nizwa centre is the old village of Tanuf, known for its seasonal
waterfall
A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf.
Waterfalls can be formed in several ...
s. Waterfalls in Tanuf are unique to the area within the steep mountain sides and the water reservoir.
Nizwa is connected to the
UAE city of
Al Ain
Al Ain ( ar, ٱلْعَيْن, , ) is a city in the western side of Tuwwam region and the seat of the administrative division of its namesake, Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is bordered to the east by the Omani ...
by road, via the
Mezyad border post. This road also goes past the
Provinces
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
of
Ibri
, native_name_lang = ar
, nickname =
, settlement_type = Town
, motto =
, image_skyline = Ibri, Oman (2013).jpg
, image_caption = Fort Ibri
, image_flag =
, image_shield ...
and Dhank.
Notable people
*
Ahmed Al-Harrasi, is an Omani scientist and a professor of organic chemistry at
University of Nizwa
The University of Nizwa (UoN) was established in 2002 by the Decree of Sultan Qaboos as the first non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or ...
.
*
Arshad Al-Alawi, is an Omani professional footballer.
*
Alkhattab Alhinai, is the Deputy Chairman of Oman State Council.
*
Bal'arab bin Himyar
Bal'arab bin Himyar () (died 1749) was an Omani Imam, a member of Yaruba dynasty. He was elected Imam in 1728, holding power in the interior of Oman while his cousin, Saif bin Sultan II, held power on the coast. In 1737, he renounced his claim af ...
, was an Omani Imam, a member of
Yaruba dynasty
The Yarubid dynasty () (also the Yaruba or Ya'arubi) were rulers of Oman between 1624 and 1742, holding the title of Imam. They expelled the Portuguese from coastal strongholds in Muscat and united the country. They improved agriculture, expan ...
.
See also
*
List of cities in Oman
This is a list of cities and towns in Oman.
*Adam
* As Sib
*Al Ashkharah
*Al Buraimi
* Al Hamra
* Al Jazer
* Al Madina A'Zarqa, formerly known as Blue City
* Al Suwaiq
*Bahla
* Barka
* Bidbid
*Bidiya
*Duqm
* Haima
*Ibra
*Ibri
*Izki
*Jabrin
*J ...
References
Sources
*Scheerpenzel, E: ''Oman Then and Now'' SPB Academic Publishing, 2000.
* Antonio Farach, Lucille Umali – Times of Oman / Shabiba (2011) "The Great Fort of Nizwa"
External links
* https://www.ncsi.gov.om/Elibrary/LibraryContentDoc/bar_Census%20Final%20Result%202010_388bd9c6-a938-467d-8c92-f6950cc1785f.pdf
{{Authority control
Populated places in Oman
Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate