Fanja Towers
The Fanja Towers stand in the town of Fanja in the Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate in Oman.
The walled village of Fanja is situated in the Wadi Samail, also known as the Samail Gap, which has long been a main route from Muscat to the interior of Oman. As a result, several fortifications, walled villages and watch towers were erected along the wadi to protect the Omanis against attempted invasions.
The village was built on a rocky plateau above the wadi. The site was strategically chosen, as from its location between the eastern and western mountains, it controlled the passes between Muscat and the interior. The village was equipped with a wall with gates and towers. Around the village, several watch towers were built to aid the village in its protection and to warn of any incoming traffic. The once thriving village is now almost completely empty and ruinous, as almost all the inhabitants have moved into the valley in favor of more modern homes.
The south end of the plateau slopes up and at its top, outside the village walls, stands a slender watch tower. This tower was protected by its own protective wall and is thus called the 'fort' of Fanja. It is freely accessible.
On a separate hill to the north of the village stands another watch tower. It is of the same design as the 'fort' tower; rectangular with rounded corners, although it looks like it is a bit bigger and more robust. I could not find out its name. I didn't have time to actually visit, and I also didn't see an easy route to get to it.
At the edge of the palm grove, on the bank of the wadi, north of the village, stands another watch tower. This one is circular and called the Al Basra Fort. It is freely accessible, although it is home to a couple of dogs. So, I didn't care to venture inside.
East of the village, also on the bank of the wadi, stands another circular watch tower. It is called the Al Khatum Tower. It is also freely accessible, but I didn't care to climb the stepping stones to enter it.
On a rocky ridge, controlling the road from the south to the village, stands another watch tower called the Qaed Tower. This one has a small annex and is also freely accessible.
A very nice site. I especially like the design of the 'fort' and the nameless tower.
Gallery
A view over the ruins of the old walled village of Fanja, taken from the 'fort'. On the hill behind the village, on the left you can see the nameless tower. Behind the village, on the right, next to the palm grove and the wadi you can see the Al Basra Fort tower.
The 'fort'
The nameless tower
Al Basra Fort
Al Khatum Tower
Qaed Tower
