Several entertainment and cultural activities were held in Jabreen Castle in the Wilayat of Bahla, Al Dakhiliyah Governorate recently. These include folk arts, horse shows, Omani costume shows by children, flying of birds, photography, laser and fire show, paragliding and theatre.
The aim of organising these events is to introduce the various types of traditional folklore that Al Dakhiliyah Governorate is famous for among younger generations.
Jabreen Castle sits in the middle of farms and the fort overlooks the surrounding fertile plain. The palace was built of gray sandstone covered with a thick layer of plaster.
What distinguishes this fort most is the many rooms with ceilings engraved with Arabic and Islamic calligraphy in beautiful colours. This reflects artistic creativity of Omani architecture. Jabreen Castle is famous for having the (Sun and Moon) rooms. There are 14 windows in this room. Half of these windows are located at the top of the room.
The room was designed to allow moonlight to enter it, while the rest of the windows at the bottom were designed to control the sunlight during the day. The unique geometric design of this room helps improve air circulation. The cold air enters from the lower windows and the hot air that rises to the top and exits from the upper windows. In ancient days, the imam would meet with important figures to discuss social issues.
Another distinctive room in this palace is the Imam’s protection room. In this room there are four secret trenches. The castle also includes two towers to protect it against any external raids. There is also a special room for the Imam's horses.
Jabreen Castle was built in 1670 by Imam Balarab bin Sultan bin Saif al Yaarubi, the third of the Yaaribah imams. The imam built it with his own money. Jabreen Castle served as a palace for the imam and was then used as the seat of government at that time. The castle consists of 5 floors and 55 rooms.
The castle includes two adjacent courtyards. The first section on the right side is 16 metres high, while the second section is 22 metres high. There is also a well in each courtyard that provides pure water to the castle’s residents for drinking and cooking. The depths of these wells reach more than 20 metres. This castle also has a falaj that is used to irrigate the orchards surrounding this castle.
Jabreen Castle is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The inclusion of this historical landmark will add important value to sustainable cultural and humanitarian tourism in the Sultanate of Oman. This will also contribute to attracting more tourists.
The castle opens its doors daily to visitors from 7:30 am until 9 pm. The castle organises various events and activities, in addition to various exhibitions throughout the year.
TEXT & PHOTOS BY YAHYA AL SALMANI
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