Y - Issue 246 - November 27, 2012 - Y-oman.com

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November 27, 2012 Issue 246 fact it is still undergoing some renovations today) to bring it back to its former glory. Inside you will find four round towers, Al Burj Ashiateen – the devil’s tower – Burj al Ahmar, Al Burj al Hadeet and Al Burj al Reeh. Canons poke out of slots in the tower wall to give 360 degree coverage of approaching attackers. Although on the day we arrived the most threatening foreign force was a pair of mild mannered Swiss tourists. One feature inside is a falaj, a channel from Rustaq’s famous spring that runs through the fort to supply water to its inhabitants. Although it no longer supplies the town with drinking water. Rustaq has its own piped water supply these days and the spring is used mainly for irrigation and as a local remedy for rheumatism. Yet it is outside where the adventures really begin. Just a few minutes’ walk from the renovated walls of the fort you will find the crumbling remains of large, formally grand homes that have fallen onto hard times. The heavy old wooden doors hang by single rusty brackets, but the ornate features that prove these were once the houses of wealthy families – on wooden beams and above doors – can still be seen. It is a strange sight, to see a horde of workmen feverishly working on the Rustaq Fort, only to see the crumbling remains of old houses abandoned to the advances of time. They will not last long. Soon there will be nothing left but the palm trees and the cows that graze nearby. But the fort – as it has done for centuries – will watch unmoved from afar. HOW TO GET THERE: Rustaq is not very far from Muscat, only around 150 km. The route is extremely simple and you don’t need a 4x4. In fact it’s a perfect day trip on the weekend. Firstly head towards Barka. Once you reach the Barka roundabout turn left to Nakhal and Rustaq on road number 13. From there you can drive directly to Rustaq. The fort and the old town is in the centre of Rustaq. You can’t miss them. 30
THE HEAVY OLD WOODEN DOORS HANG BY SINGLE, RUSTY BRACKETS 31
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Y - Issue 246 - November 27, 2012 - Y-oman.com

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