[1] During the 19th century (Turkiyya) the town expanded much beyond the fortress to become one of the places with something like urban institutions in Northern Sudan, although it is now largely depopulated, because in the mid 20th century as trading declined, many people moved to Khartoum and Omdurman.

[4] The town of Al-Khandaq, which was once a thriving river port, was the residence of wealthy merchants who built two-storey houses of mud brick, with many rooms, as well as one-storey dwellings.

The fort, known as Qaila Qaila (which means "Red Fort"), dominates the town, with its south-west tower visible from both north and south, while its western wall overlooks the area with the remains of the south-western and interval towers.

The town and its environs, Wad Nimeiri, Magasir Island, Kabtod and Hannek-Koya, include houses, palaces, qubbas, cemeteries and khawas of Islamic date.

The site began to decline during the 1940s as the port faced increasing competition from the railway and road traffic as goods carriers.