Tanuf (تنوف) is a village in Nizwa province, placed almost half-way between two of the largest cities in Al Dakhiliyah region of Oman: Nizwa and Bahla. It is probably most famous for the Tanuf drinking water brand, bottled in a factory nearby from the fresh water at Wadi Tanuf, but it is also famous for the historical ruins of the village, Tanuf Ruins (أطلال تنوف).
Tanf Ruins is a place I stop by almost every time we are traveling in Al Dakhiliyah, because of its wonderful, almost romantic location against the backdrop of the Western side of Al Hajar Mountains, and the sense of awe it instills for visitors exploring the remnants of these ruins. This is in addition, of course, to the fantastic opportunities it provides for a lover of photography like myself.
A little bit of history of Tanuf Ruins, as I learnt from one of its old residents. These ruins were a fully functional village, inhabited by the current residents of Tanuf village all the way until the 1950s. Life was simpler back then with very little of the current luxuries we are accustomed to, as was the case through Oman prior to the Renaissance in 1970. However, the village was damaged, and subsequently abandoned during the Jabal Akhdar Wars in the 1950s, and the only thing remaining are the ruins you see today.
If you are in Al Dakhiliyah region for whatever reason, stopping for a stroll through Tanuf Ruins is something that I could definitely recommend, especially if you like history and photography!
How to Reach Tanuf Ruins:
Tanuf village is almost half-way between Nizwa and Bahla, and once you take the road into the village you won’t miss Tanuf Ruins right at the edge of the mountain range, right before the off-road drive to Wadi Tanuf.
3 replies on “Tanuf Ruins”
Hello
Beautiful ruins, would like to go there sometime soon
Do you need a 4WD?
Regards,
Hi Mira,
You should! You don’t need a 4WD to get there, its just off the paved road heading to Tanuf village! However, you will need a 4WD if you want to explore the wadi beyond the ruins (Tanuf Wadi, which I should write a blog-post about sometime!).
Best,
Ali
Dear,
As a being of explorer, I loved your stuff and a lovely demonstration with enchanting photography.
I would like to have a visit once to explore this ruin.