Khasab Castle, Musandam Governorate, Oman 

Khasab Castle is one of the oldest historical sites in the Governorate of Musandam, 570 km from Muscat. Omanis rebuilt it on the ruins of the old castle constructed by the Portuguese in the seventeenth century.

The castle used to house wali and his family and to protect people from any sudden attack. It is now a museum and displays several handicraft and archaeological collections.

In its courtyard there are boats such as ‘Mashuwwah’ which is an adaptation of the earlier double-ended vessel. It can be rowed. Sailed or fitted with an outboard engine. These boats, retired from service in 1999, were used in Khasab harbour to ferry goods and people back and forth from anchored ships off shore. In the past it was also used on ocean-going cargo dhows such as the baghlah, or boum, where they served as lifeboats and provided a means of communicating between ships at sea. During the long sail to East African ports, the ship’s carpenter would often use his spare time on board to build a ‘Mashuwwah’ to sell at the end of the voyage.

Epic Oman Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound

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