The remarkable ceilings and balconies of Jabrin Fort

the four of us at the top of Jabrin Fort

Today we are all set for swimming escapade at Al Falaj Doris Hotel in Nizwa. But before going directly to the hotel, we take a side trip at the famous Jabrin Castle located in the old town of Bahla.

Jabrin (Jebreen) fort is constructed on a flat plain and its towers stand tall amidst the vast plantations of dates that are bearing fruits for the summer season. According to the fort’s caretaker, this castle was built in 1670 by the powerful Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Ya’arubi as a defensive stronghold and accommodation of the Imam and his family. The two huge towers with walls two metres thick was built by Bil'arab bin Sultan, an Imam of the Ya'aruba dynasty during the 17th century. But when Imam Bil'arab died, his remains were buried within the fort until today.

The Castle Map found at the main entrance

We pay 500 baiza each, excluding children, at the fort’s entrance. At the main gate, there are old cannons that on display and several others that are placed in between rooms of the palace. There are also some potteries of different sizes flaunted on one corner.

At the Fort's Entrance

We begin our search from the kitchen area at the right section of the fort where array of bronze cooking wares are carefully arranged. I placed my little Anyah in a big wok with laddle which my baby thought as her bathing tub.

Exploring the ground area of the form to the right is the Kitchen Section

Anyah on a big wook

Next, we saw a small entry to the Imam’s tomb beside the staircase to guard’s quarters. I go forward gingerly, bending my head through the hole while holding my little Anyah tightly on my chest.

A small hole towards Imam's tomb

The room is so narrow and dull, there’s nothing really interesting here aside from the small and empty chambers that looks like a storage area. I was even looking for the tomb but it is nowhere to find. So I thought, perhaps the catacomb was buried beneath the ground.

Inside the Imam's tomb chamber

 We hurriedly climb up the stiff staircase leading upper level or the second floor of the castle. I am already perspiring and gasping for breath, so with my little Anyah, when we get to one of the sections called the living room.

The door that leads to one of the living rooms in the castle

There you can find silk cushions that are heavy as sandbags and huge carpet accentuated the floor. But the wooden ceilings are impressive with fine carvings and paints of flower and symbols. This is not normally found in other forts I have visited in Oman. I bet the Imam who is residing in those days have a heart for arts which are clearly seen on the beautiful paintings even found in the balconies.

The living room with beatifully carved and painted ceilings!

The same living room showing off the lights highlighting the pottery jars above.

We explore each sections that where like labyrinth which we enjoy getting around and discovering something amazing about the wealthy Arabian culture living in turbulent times at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. This massive structure has lots of defensive features such as high and thick walls, towers, and holes for shooting arrows and guns. Bullet marks are even still visible on one of the fort’s walls.

Anyah setting in a small window

Finally, we get to the top of the towers and a superb view of the surroundings of flat plains and mountains came to sight. I can say that this fort was very important strategically as the soldiers could see 360 degrees for approaching enemies from a distance. Part of the view is a cemetery with its walls near to the fort.

At the top of Fort's Tower the sun is strikingly hot in the mid-afternoon

Since, it is almost mid-afternoon and the unwelcoming hot weather is not ideal for staying on top for long, we hurriedly descend to the ground and take souvenir snapshots of the fort before we leave.

Descending from the Tower's top

Pictorials in the Fort's hallway

For me, the architecture of Jabrin Fort is simply amazing because it is constantly being restored to enable future generations to visit and marvel at this man-made wonder.

At the fort's main gate