Al Ain Village: Where nature meets heritage

Times of Oman

2 days ago

Muscat: Al Ain Village in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate is a popular tourist destination for many visitors to the wilayat. This is due to its moderate climate in the summer and extremely cold in the winter, its rich historical and cultural landmarks, and its diverse agricultural crops, such as roses, pomegranates, grapes, and many others, spread across terraces that reflect Omani agricultural nature.
The village's blend of mountainous terrain, natural landscapes, and farms makes it a favorite destination for nature lovers, photography enthusiasts, and those who enjoy hiking along the many ancient trails that connect the villages of Al Jabal Al Akhdar to the villages of Al Dakhiliyah Governorate and several villages in the wilayats of South Al Batinah Governorate.
Engineer Yahya bin Nasser bin Saif Al Riyami, a resident of Al Ain Village in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar, said: "Al Ain Village is one of the oldest villages in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar, dating back hundreds of years. It is of great importance to the wilayat. It is centrally located in the wilayat, and also boasts a prime location. It sits on a mass of travertine rocks, known for their abundant water supply since ancient times. This gives it a beautiful view of three of the wilayat's villages: Al Aqar, Al Shurayjah, and Al Qasha."
Al Riyami pointed out that the village's name stems from the presence of water springs in the village, from which three aflaj spring: Falaj Al A'war, which irrigates the farms of the villages of Al Ain, Al Aqar, and Al Qasha; Falaj Al Qanti, which irrigates the farms of Al Ain; and Falaj Abu Kabir, which irrigates the farms of Al Shurayjah and part of the farms of Al Ain. There are also several water springs, such as Ain Al Uyaynah.
Al Riyami explained that Al Ain village is famous for several historical, cultural, and religious landmarks, including the site called "Al Qalaa," which overlooks the village from the north and is considered one of the oldest residential houses first inhabited by the Persians. The engineering of the underground aflaj (water canals) is a historical masterpiece in itself, and the village's houses—especially the old ones—bear witness to the village's rich history.
Furthermore, the cultural aspect, which is the primary factor in consolidating the village's history and passing it on across generations, is evident in the school for the Holy Qur'an and religious studies, the allocation of a collection of religious, cultural, scientific, and other books as a general endowment for the village, and the allocation of an area of the village's farms to be used for the endowment of books. From a religious perspective, the old mosques are a testament to the villagers' long-standing interest in this aspect. There are four mosques in the village: the Upper Mosque, the Naranja Mosque, the Khashbatain Mosque, and the Qanti Mosque.
Engineer Yahya bin Nasser Al Riyami explained that the geographical location of Al Ain village, central to the villages of Al Jabal Al Akhdar Governorate, created a network of pedestrian paths, which were the only artery through which the villagers traveled in all directions. Those wishing to travel to the Wilayat of Nizwa take the road linking the village to the villages of Saiq and Wadi Bani Habib, and then to the Wilayat of Nizwa. Those wishing to go to Birkat al-Mouz take the road linking the village to the villages of Ash-Sharijah, Salut, and Masirah al-Rawajih.
Those wishing to go to the Wilayat of Izki take the road linking the village to the villages of Al-Aqar and Hail al-Yaman. Those heading to the Wilayat of Samail take the road linking the village to the village of Al-Manakhir. Those heading to the Wilayat of Al-Awabi in the South Al Batinah Governorate take the road linking the village to the villages of Hail al-Masbat, then to the villages of Al-Aliya, Misfat Ash-Shariqiyyin, Al-Hajjar, or Thaqb in Wadi Bani Kharus in the Wilayat of Al-Awabi.
These roads were of great interest to the people of the Wilayat of Jabal Al-Akhdar, as they were the only artery used to travel to other wilayats for their errands. Consequently, they received great attention, with maintenance and repairs being undertaken in the event of damage caused by rain or other factors. After the construction of a road during the reign of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said from Birkat Al Mouz to the Wilayat of Al Jabal Akhdar, pedestrian paths fell into disuse. They are currently limited to hiking and adventure enthusiasts. These paths are receiving attention from the relevant authorities to make them passable, as they have become a tourist and heritage attraction and have contributed significantly to learning about the past civilizations that used these routes.
Al Riyami noted that there are significant efforts being made to develop adventure tourism by the relevant authorities in the villages of Jabal Akhdar.
Engineer Yahya Al Riyami emphasised that Al Ain village is surrounded by agricultural orchards on all sides, like a bracelet on the wrist. It contains all types of agricultural crops, which are also found in other villages of the Wilayat, such as deciduous fruit trees (pomegranates, peaches, apricots, walnuts, grapes, and others), vegetable crops such as garlic and onions, and fodder crops. It is also distinguished by the cultivation of rose trees, which is a source of income for the villagers after the pomegranate crop. Most of the villagers work in the rosewater distillation profession, which has earned the village great importance and a good reputation at the state level, and even at the level of the Sultanate of Oman. Therefore, this activity is hoped to be a factor in attracting visitors during the rose harvest season.
Al Riyami said: "It is noticeable that visitors to the village are present throughout the year, as it is a tourist attraction due to its advantages. However, the number of visitors varies from one season to another, with peak visitor periods occurring during the holiday and official holidays, the rosewater harvesting and distillation seasons, and the pomegranate harvest."