Wadi Al Himli in Rustaq is a promising tourist destination

Al-Rustaq: Wadi Al-Himli in the Wilayat of Al-Rustaq in the South Al-Batinah Governorate is one of the tourist places that witnesses an active tourist movement and tourist demand from various visitors throughout the year.

Dr. Al-Muatasem bin Nasser Al-Hilali, Director of the Heritage and Tourism Department in the South Al-Batinah Governorate, said: Wadi Al-Himli is located in the northwest of the Rustaq Wilayat, and it is one of the pristine valleys that contain many tourist attractions, agricultural paths, water ponds, rock writings, and palm oases spread on both banks of the valley, where the valley branches into a group of villages, including: Hail Al-Ghafa, Al-Qarya, Al-Himli, Al-Gharwa, Hail Al-Majaz, and Al-Buwaireq.

He added that visiting Wadi Al-Himli enables the tourist to see the rock inscriptions and writings that record various historical events, including those related to ancient stone inscriptions, which appear in carvings of different shapes and expressions that express the means of hunting with a spear and transportation on the backs of camels.

As for the modern rock writings in Wadi Al-Himli, their periods are highlighted. Since the ninth century AH. The Director of the Department of Heritage and Tourism in the South Al Batinah Governorate explained that Wadi Al Himli is famous for many archaeological houses, including: the Oud House, which is considered one of the most beautiful models existing in the valley’s villages.

The people preserved it by restoring it and reviving its ancient character in preparation for exploiting it in the future to attract visitors as one of the components of tourist attraction.

The house includes a mini-exhibition of some of the craftsmanship prevalent in the village, traditional weapons, and components of ancient Omani homes.

There are a number of caves in the valley, often called “rock cavities,” which are among the geological formations that can be seen in Wadi Al-Himli as part of the natural beauties located on the agricultural paths.

The most famous of them are the Hamsan Caves, which the people used in the past as a resting place for farmers, especially during periods of harvesting dates and fruits.

He mentioned that the people depend on the falaj to irrigate their farms, as streams branch off from the main stream of Wadi Al-Himli according to a recognized system in dividing and distributing water shares.

Among its most famous falaj are: Hail Al-Ghafa falaj, Al-Qarya falaj, Al-Khutwa falaj, Al-Gharwa falaj, Hawail Al-Majaz falaj, and Al-Buwairiq falaj.

Al-Hilali stated that for adventure enthusiasts, Wadi Al-Himli is one of the tourist places that attract adventurers to discover nature in the valley, where one can enjoy an internal tour on the old walkway in the middle of the palm oases.

The length of the path is more than 6 kilometers, and it has several stopping points, including the ancient lanes, the House of Oud, caves, and writings. Mostly, tourism traffic in the valley increases during the winter, as some tourism companies are interested in this route.