One of the most beautiful villages in the Oman sultanate, Saija village provides a pleasuring experience to the tourists.
Praised as a beautiful village hidden in the Wilayat of Samail in the Governorate of A’Dakhiliya, Saija forms the picturesque valley under the cliffs of Al Hajar Al Gharbi (Western Mountain Range) linked to Al Jabal Al Akhdar (The Green Mountain).
The village was known in the past as “Sail Ga” which means “Rain is coming”. The reason behind the name is the heavy annual rains that bless the village, dotting the farms green.
The village has many historical and religious monuments such as forts, towers and old neighborhoods that testify to the glory and majesty of the people of Oman. There are also several archaeological sites, including ‘Al Rajm’ which is a series of graves dating back hundreds of years at the entrance to the village.
“In the village of Saija, there are old neighborhoods that host a group of houses that were previously inhabited by most of the villagers, the most famous of which are the Ya’ariba neighborhood, the Hadhrami neighborhood, and the Jabryeen neighborhood,” stated a villager from Saija.
“The village has three entrances namely Al Sabahat, which are gates that were opened at dawn and closed after sunset prayers, or according to what the people agreed on at that time,” he added.
Saija had many defensive fortifications due to the strategic position of the village near Al Hajar Al Gharbi Range, such as the Yellow Tower, Al Khub Tower, Al Sharaj Tower, Hamrout Tower, Wind Tower and Al Maqsoura Tower, the most prominent of which is the Al Sawda Tower. But these towers have disappeared and the villagers are looking forward to restoring them as part of the history and heritage of the village and its ancient past.
The village has approximately 13 old mosques, the most prominent of which is the Jama Mosque, considered one of the largest mosques in the village.
The abundance of water characterizes Saija village, as it receives plenty of rain throughout the year. The village also houses many aflaj, the ancient irrigation system or water channels including Falaj Al Hamam, whose water flows from the bottom of the mountain. The water is hot, particularly during winter which makes it an apt visit in this season.
These characteristics make the village a popular destination among many tourists, both for local and foreign travelers, in addition to other destinations like Falaj Al-Qari, Falaj Al-Hadith and Falaj Al Mahdouth.
