Manah 2009

The walled city of Manah has been a regular part of the ENHG Nizwa weekend for several years. The abandoned collection of houses, shops and mosques is now being carefully restored.

The University of Liverpool has been studying the city's streetscape for several years; a publication of its research is expected later in 2009.

Each house in the city -- and there are approximately 65 houses -- has its own well. Navigating around the city includes walking along impressive streets and through arched passageways.

A small section inside the walled city was reserved for agriculture; the remains of the well, reservoir and falaj system are still visible. In a corner of this section of the city workers are preparing the mud bricks used in the reconstruction work.

The main entranceway to the city is marked by a spectacular square tower while other corners of the complex are marked by stone towers plastered with mud.

In many of the houses, there are blankets, storage boxes and the remains of pottery vessels. In addition, along the interior walls of most houses are small alcoves, the roof of which is still covered with soot, evidence these once held small oil lamps. The interior rooms are decidedly dark though cool. Most of the houses are at least two stories tall.

Several mosques are also being restored. These are decorated with spectacular wall engravings.

The Ministry of Tourism's booklet on the Dhakiliya district notes that the walled city we visit is actually Harrat Al Bilad; Manah is the Wilyat that is composed of 10 villages with a total population of approximately 10,000 residents.

"The most interesting part of Manah is in the old area of Harrat Al Bilad. A visit here is like stepping back in time," the brochure states. "The entire abandoned village, walled up for defence, still stands in all its past glory. Now deserted, many of its mud and rock houses are deteriorating, but you can wander through its arched alleyways, peep through the doorways, and imagine life here in the not-so-distant past."

One of the original gates	The side streets between the houses	Ahead, one of the coverage passageways	There are no windows onto the streets
Some of the houses have collapsed	A grinding stone	Inside one house, door leaning against the wall	Shelving on a second- storey wall
Houses bridged over pedestrian walkways	Doors were still attached in many doorways	Door bell	One of the covered passageways
The timber ceiling framing is visible	Many such passageways remain in Manah	Mud plaster covers the walls	Detail of the ceiling construction
A narrow passageway	Restoration work began last year	The original mud bricks and date palm timbers visible	One of the more spectacular arched streets
This passageway separates the two exterior walls	The ends of timbers visible above the arch	Some arches were peaked, some rounded	Remains of a house that once existed above
Blanket hanging from peg	Rubble spilled over into the street	Metal drainpipe (right, above) suggests recent occupation	Second storey building collapsed
This house remains sealed	Light and shadows	The doors are gone but the lock remains	Some houses are in very poor condition
Second storey view	Pegs and alcove	The alcove once held an oil lamp	Interior of one of the mosques
Koranic inscription	Porcelain plate encased in the wall	Detail	The farming area
View from the fields towards the houses	View in farming area	Pottery in abundance	Falaj, reservoir and supports of lifting device
Detail of the lifting device	Detail of reservoir	View from reservoir	Cement was used to construct some of the aflaj
New mud bricks drying in the sun	Traditional building materials being used	The mud is cured before the bricks are formed	Ruins of one house
Mud and straw mix	Arches alone remain	Sun breaking through the collapsed roof	One of the decorated ceiling supports
Door still in situ	Normal color tones	An interior corridor	An interior corridor
Corridor showing debris	Houses were very dark	Broken pot at bottom of stairs to rooms above	Detail
Another staircase	Barasti roof material	Notice the timbers and use of barasti	Peaked interior arch
Restoration work will take several years to complete