NIZWA was the Capital city of Oman proper. It used to be the centre for religious Islamic learning at the old central mosque and is still known by many old Nizwa people as the Jaama. It is a centre for Date growing and packing, and the market place for the Dhakliya area. In the early 1950s the large round tower of the ancient Fort built around 400 years ago in the centre of the town was bombed and rocketed by the British Royal Airforce who were called in to assist the then reigning Sultan, Said bin Taymour in supressing a revolt by tribal leaders in the interior which was in reality a struggle for shares in the newly discovered oil wealth. Nizwa has become a more modern city under the reign of Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said with roads and communications, a substantial Hospital, schools, and the Training academy for the Royal Oman Police all being established over the past thirty years. There are now two good hotels and tourism is promoted in the area, which has some outstanding mountain scenery close by.