Jalan Bani Bu Hassan Fort

Jalan Bani Bu Hassan Fort, sometimes also known as Al Muhaywil Castle, lies in the town of the same name, in the Ash Sharqiyah South Governorate in Oman.

The town of Jalan Bani Bu Hassan lies mainly stretched along the east side of the Wadi Bani Khalid, with date palm plantations on both banks of the wadi and some smaller suburbs on the west side of the wadi.  The castle is situated in the northern part of town, east of the wadi.

The fort is said to have been founded in the 9th century, during the reign of Al-Muhanna bin Jayfar as Imam of Oman. In 1821 the fort was a base for the English and Indian troops during the 2nd punitive expedition to Jalan Bani Bu Ali. It was thoroughly rebuilt during the reign of Thuwaini bin Said, who was Sultan of Oman from 1856 to 1866. This rebuilding phase gave it its present form. It was restored in 1991. In recent years it was restored back to its present appearance.

During its history, the Jalan Bani Bu Hassan Fort served as the main fortification in the area and was the home and office of the local wali (governor).

The fort consists of a somewhat circular main castle, situated in the northeast corner of an outer, more or less rectangular enclosure. The wali would have resided and worked in the main castle, while the outer enclosure would have held other facilities like a school and a courthouse.

Jalan Bani Bu Hassan Fort can be visited for a small fee. A great fort with lots of rooms and towers to explore. Its interior is rather empty, however.

The town of Jalan Bani Bu Hassan makes for a great visit, if you are a castle-nut like me, as there are several other fortifications strewn in and about the town. Besides this one there are also the castles/forts of Awlad Murshid, Falaj Al Fahiya, Sayaaria, Al Khuwaisa and Al Mashayikh. None of them are restored, however, and all are crumbling away.

Gallery