Marsa Matruh
Mersa Matrouh
lies 290 km. West of Alexandria and 222 km. from Sallum. The
distance from Cairo to Matrouh is 524 km. It lies on a bay
on the Mediterranean and is distinguished by its seven km.
long beach, which-as all visitors have testified-is one of
the most beautiful in the world.
The beach is famous for its white soft sands and calm
transparent waters, for the bay is protected from the high
seas by a series of rocks forming a natural wave-breaker,
with a small opening to allow light vessels in.
This beach dates back to the days of Alexander, the
Macedonian, when it was known as "Paraetonium" and also as "Amunia".
It said that Alexander the Great stopped there during his
historical expedition to pay tribute, and sacrifice, to the
god Amun, at Siwa, so that he becomes Amun's son and his
rule be a historical continuation of the pharaohs. There are
ruins of a temple from the time of Rameses II (1200 B.C.) in
Matrouh.
Siwa Oasis
The area is
famous for its dates and olives, and is one of the most
beautiful landscapes in Egpt. Olives oil is still made in
the area by crushing the olives from the 70,000 olive trees
in the area with stones. The dates are gathered by zaggala
(stick bearers), who must remain celibate until the age of
forty, and the area boasts some 300,000 date trees.
It is located on
the old date caravan route, yet until recently, it received
few other visitors and retained much of its heritage.
In fact, until the battles which took place around the oasis
in World War II, it was hardly governed by Egypt, and
remained mostly a Berber (Zenatiya) community for the prior
thirteen centuries. Siwans continue to have their own
culture and customs and they speak a Berber language, called
Siwi, rather than Arabic. Interestingly, each October there
is a three-day festival during which Siwans must settle all
of their past year's disputes.
The area is also
famous for its springs, of which there are approximately
1,000. The water is sweet, and is said to have medical
properties.
Though relaxing
and certainly now a part of the tourist community in Egypt,
it is very traditional, and visitors should keep this in
mind when traveling to the area. Girls of the area are often
married by the age of 14, and afterward where completely
covering clothing, and allowed little communications with
the world outside their immediate family. Many women still
wear traditional costumes and silver jewelry like those
displayed in The Traditional Siwan House museum in the town
center. In fact, the area is also well known for its crafts,
particularly woven cloth, which is unique in Egypt.
Alexandria
Alexandria Egypt
is the second largest city in Egypt, with a population of approximately
5 million. The city is located 200 km north of Cairo and stretches
20 km along the Mediterranean Sea in a narrow stripe of a few
kilometers.
The harbour is the
most important in Egypt, with, among other things, the export
of crude oil and cotton. The presence of natural gas in the
surrounding area, and the making of an oil pipeline from Suez,
have made the city an important industrial centre. Besides a
refinery and the petrochemical industry, the city houses iron
and steel mills, car factories and a textile industry.
Nowadays the glorious
past of the city of Alexandria Egypt is hard to spot. However
a newly-opened library which covers all sciences will hopefully
re-establish the old reputation of the city as the stronghold
of wisdom.
The
New Library of Alexandria
Because of a very
pleasant climate, wonderful beaches, and hotels up to 2 million
Egyptians choose to spend their summer in the city.
If you are interested
in ancient sights, Alexandria Egypt has them too. The city used
to be the capital of the Ptolemy Pharaohs, and therefore holds
a number of ancient Greek and Roman sites.
Pompeii's Pillar
So named in the middle ages, is a granite pillar, over 25 metres
high, and built amidst the ruins of the Serapuim in 297 A.D.,
to honour the Emperor Diocletian.
The Roman Theatre
Found at Kom Al-Dekka, near the Graeco-Roman Museum, this attraction
is considered unique in Egypt, because it has 12 semi-circular
marble tiers . . . and the theatre is in good condition.
The
Roman Theatre
The Catacombs of
Kom al-Shoqafa This is the largest Roman cemetery in Egypt.
It is built in three levels and cut into the rock to a depth
of 100 feet. Dating back to the beginning of the 2nd century
A.D., it is a blend of Pharaonic and Roman art.
The
Catacombs
The Tombs of Al-Anfushi
These five Ptolemaic tombs from the third century B.C. were
discovered in 1901 A.D.
The Tombs of Mustafa
Kamel (Rushdy) These four subterranean rock-hewn tombs from
the 2nd century B.C. are distinguished by their bright colours
and relief inscriptions that tell of the daily activities and
religious beliefs of the deceased.
Al-Shatby Necropolis
Built along the lines of old Greek houses, it comprises a doorway,
corridor and two chambers. It dates back to the 3rd century
B.C., and lies north of Saint Mark's College.
Port Said
The origins of Port
Said is that of a working camp founded in 1859 by Said Pasha
to house men working on the Suez Canal. By the late 19th
century, it was an important port where all the major maritime
powers had consulates. Much of the city was built on a
section of Lake Manzala which was reclaimed by landfill.
The City was damaged during the Suez Crisis, and again during
the wars of 1967 and 1973, but the city has largely been rebuilt
and today is a pleasant city of 400,00 people. It is also
considered a summer resort by Egyptians and the beach is lined
with vacation bungalows. The main street, with most commercial
enterprises, is Sharia Palestine.
This is where the huge ships wait to enter the Suez Canal,
and it can be a sight to behold. But also often missed,
but of interest is the colonial architecture of the 19th century
in the town center.
There is a National Museum in Port Said, which houses artifacts
from most periods of Egypt's past, including pharaonic and prehistoric.
Located on Sharia Palestine, the museum also houses Islamic
and Coptic exhibits, including textiles, manuscripts and coins.
There is a also a room devoted to artifacts of the Khedival
family.
There is also a Military Museum located on Sharia 23rd of
July. Along with some small displays of pharaonic and Islamic
wars are artifacts from the Suez Crises and the 1967 and 1973
wars.
Across the Canal from Port Said is Port Fuad, which is really
only a bedroom community to Port Said. However, if time permits
is is a very pleasant place to take a stroll among the gardens
and sprawling residences located there.
So what does New York and Port Said, Egypt have in common?
Originally, American's very own statue of Liberty was to be
placed not in New York but at Port Said. The Statue of
Liberty was really inspired by the huge statues at Abu Simbel.
Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the statue designed the American
Lady of Liberty as 'Egypt carrying the light of Asia'.
However, the Khedive Ismail decided that the project was too
expensive, so the 'Light of Asia' was sent to the US instead,
where she became the Statue of Liberty.
Taba
Taba is located in
Sinai a few kilometres from the Israeli border. The border can
be crossed on foot, and there is direct bus service to Eilat,
Israel. Taba currently boasts 5-star hotels, great restaurants
and quaint, cozy beach cafes. And there is a brand new beach
comunity, Taba Heights, nearing completion, which will offer
a wide variety of fun and interesting activities.
It currently boasts
5-star hotels, great restaurants and quaint, cozy beach cafes.
The border can be crossed on foot, and there is direct bus service
to Eilat, Israel. And there is a brand new beach comunity, Taba
Heights, nearing completion, which will offer a wide variety
of fun and interesting activities.
On a historic note,
not far from Taba Egypt, in the Gulf of Aqba, lies Pharaohs
Island, one of the least known of the many major forts in Egypt.
This fortress, built at the time of the Crusades, would no doubt
attract much larger crowds were it located in more of a mainstream
tourist destination, but those tourists (like you?) who make
an effort to visit the fort will not only find it fascinating,
but probably have the island mostly to themselves.
Also known as Coral
Island, Pharaoh's Island is where Naldwin I, King of Jerusalem,
built the fortress, from which one can see into four countries
(see above). It is thought work on the fort began around 1116
AD. It was constructed for three main reasons:
-
It was in the
center of a huge trade route between the Far East and Europe.
-
It was defended
easily, being out of range of land-based catapults and was
on high ground.
-
It was in the
narrowest section of the Gulf of Aqaba.
The fortress was
originally called Ile De Graye Castle. While still in the hands
of the Crusaders, it was used to collect taxes on Arab merchants
and occasionally to attack Arab shipping. Meanwhile it also
served its main purpose, which was to protect pilgrims traveling
between Jerusalem and St. Catherine's Monastery.
However, in 1170
the castle was captured by Salah ad-Din. There is confusion
as to what happened thereafter; some say he abandoned the fortress
only a short time later, in about 1183, while other scholars
indicate that he expanded the fortress considerably, and possibly
retained it until the 13th century. There is little doubt that
he did, indeed, expand the fortress considerably, and that later
the Ottomans and the Mamelukes further enlarged and enhanced
it.
Now completely renovated,
the fortress has many smaller rooms - some with arched doorways
and others without. These include what were the sleeping quarters
for the troops, bathhouses, and kitchens complete with huge
ovens. There are towers in which carrier pigeons were housed,
and circular towers for archers.
Interestingly, it
is a fact that Lawrence of Arabia made an unauthorized and downright
daring visit to the island during while on his famous Wilderness
of Zin survey in June, 1914. Unfortunately we know little else
of the history of this fascinating place, Taba Egypt.
Though, obviously,
we do know that at least one important battle did take place
there; that was when Salah ad-Din took the fortress from the
Crusaders. Beyond that, however, what we know is really very
little. There seem to have been no other major battles.
Dahab
This pearl of the
gulf actually consists of two villages, the Bedouin village
of Assalah is the southern half, with the business and administrative
center of
Dahab
to the north. There are also clusters of holiday villages that
cater to affluent visitors.
Assalah is the most developed part of
Dahab,
2,5 miles up the coat from downtown. Historically, most visitors
to Dahab
have been backpackers traveling independently and staying in
the hostels in this area. It is a sprawling conglomeration
of palm trees, shops, campgrounds, hotels, bars and restaurants
that lie along the shore of Ghazala Bay. Assalah has a distictly
bohemian feel. Less laid back, but still relaxed, is the area
just south along El-Qura Bay. Here, upscale luxury holiday villages
and dive centers attract a very different clientele.
Dahab
means 'gold' in Arabic. In Sinai it means golden sands, turquoise
sea and off-beat cafe life. It is a focus of tourism development,
with swaying palms, fine sand and wonderful snorkeling opportunities.
Dahab
has excellent hotel accommodations, but also affords less expensive
housing in the village, or camping. About 5 miles from town
is the famous Blue Hole, for diving. Towards the Israeli border
is the Island of Coral, where the Crusaders built a fort. The
remains can still be seen.
Dahab
was originally a Bedouin fishing village that today is world-renowned
for its windsurfing, because of the reliable winds that provide
outstanding flat water conditions. However, there are many reefs
immediately adjacent to the waterfront hotels, so scuba diving
and snorkeling are also very popular sports, especially considering
the nearby Blue Hole.
One of the main
attractions of
Dahab
are the unique on-the-ground restaurants, a mixture of Hippie
and Bedouin styles developed over several decades. Large cushions
and low tables are placed next to the sea, and decorated with
colorful cloths. Most of these restaurants have fish stalls
in front, where one can pick the fish of one's choice and have
it prepared according to one's wishes. The menus are delicious,
quite affordable, but a bit above the price level of the average
Egyptian restaurant. After finishing one's food, onejust lean
back in the cushions and rest for as long as you wish.
Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh is
the leading tourist spot in the Sinai and on the Red Sea coast.
Sharm is a year round resort, hot in the summer, but pleasant
and warm in the winter, and it has many great international
hotels. The beaches and diving opportunities at Sharm el-Sheik
are some of the best in Egypt. If you had visited Sharm el-Sheikh
anytime prior to about 1968, all you would have found was peaceful,
little fishing village. Now it is one of Egypt's most popular
beach resorts. In fact, Sharm is the number one tourist destination
in all the Sinai.
Why?
First, it can be
enjoyed year-round. Yes, it can get a bit hot in the summer
time, but it is also quite warm and pleasant for the rest of
the year. Also, Sharm boasts an international airport that handles
many international charters as well as private flights.
Next, you can find
some of the most beautiful and amazing underwater scenery anywhere
in the world. Beneath the crystal clear waters at the tip of
the Sinai between Ras Mohammed Park and Tiran Island, swim an
incredible variety of exotic fish, surrounded by some of the
most gorgeous coral reefs anywhere.
Best of all, you
can see much of this undersea beauty with merely a snorkel and
a set of flippers. If you'd prefer to really immerse yourself
in the scene, you will also have access to some of the most
popular dive sites in the Red Sea. In fact, just to the south
of Sharm is one of Egypt's most beautiful and oldest underwater
protectorates, Ras Mohamed.
Sharm is a diver's
paradise. You will find top-notch dive shops, centers, and charters,
along with every other possible amenity, most operated by Europeans
and offering excellent instruction.
Plus, Sharm el-Sheikh
Egypt offers all the natural beauty of the Sinai itself. There
are many towering mountains and deep valleys dotting its national
park system. In the area you will also find more traditional
tourist attractions such as a major shopping mall and St. Catherine's
Monastery.
But there is much
more to Sharm el-Sheikh Egypt than just the beaches, sea, and
landscape. The area is very well developed; its refined facilities
seem more European than Egyptian. Accommodations run the gamut
from five-star hotels to more budget-oriented. In fact, Sharm
is a very popular destination for budget-conscious Europeans,
being quite an inexpensive alternative to other, more costly
beach resorts found elsewhere.
It's small wonder
the area is so popular. One can find just about every vacation
activity a person might want. Virtually every water sport known
to man can be found here. You can go horseback riding. You can
take a spin in a four-wheeler. You can golf, bowl, and bungee
jump. You can even go ice skating! And don't worry about your
children. Sharm provides endless activities to keep them busily
occupied and happy.
The evening is when
Sharm really shines. With its wide variety of floorshows and
other entertainment all along the boardwalk between the hotels
and the sea, you will almost think you're in Las Vegas. During
the course of an evening stroll, you will hear people speaking
languages from all over the world.
Sharm el-Sheikh Egypt
consists of three main areas:
-
The old town
Sharm el Maya (Moya), and its bay
-
A number of other
bays, where most of the tourist facilities are located (though
in fact some very fine resorts are located elsewhere)
-
El Hadaba, with
its vacation villas, apartments, condominiums, and a few
hotels
Sharm's downtown
area is extremely popular. Though not that large an area, there
are many restaurants and nightspots to be found, among them
a Hard Rock Café and several of the more well-known fast food
outlets. There are banks and other facilities as well as three
hospitals. It is also here that you will find the local bazaar
(suq). This is also where the main marina is located, with its
diving and fishing boat jetties.
There is extravagant
entertainment, as noted, and also numerous natural wonders,
as well as the fascinating historic sites of the Sinai. Sharm
is a purely a tourist town, with scant other raison d'ete. Sharm
el-Sheikh Egypt really is one of those places where wonderful
memories are made, and your dreams just might come true.
Hurghada
About 395 km. south
of Suez you will find Hurghada. It has a very pleasant climate
all year round and offers facilities for underwater fishing
and snorkelling. It has camping sites such as Sea Land and Caravan
about 40 km from town.
In Hurghada also,
lies one of the world's biggest aquariums or aqua-culture museums,
comprised of rare pieces in all phases of evolution. Hurghada
is extremely popular among tourists and you will find hotels
in all price ranges. Whatever your preference in aquatic activities,
you will find it in Hurghada:
Marsa Alam
About 135 km south
of Qusayr, Marsa Alam has several rest houses, such as the Egyptian
Shooting Club and is rich with marine life and therefore very
suitable for diving and fishing. It is connected to Edfu by
a paved desert road, 280 km long. Marsa Alam is quickly turning
into much more than the quaint fishing village many modern travel
guides make it out to be. Set on Egypt's Red Sea Coast 132 km
(82 mi) from Al-Queseir, it is home to a brand new international
airport, plus quite a few additional tourism projects that are
in the works. All this, combined with the several new hotels
you will find there, clearly makes Marsa Alam Egypt much more
than just another fishing village.
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During the Greek
period, Ptolemy II built a road all the way from Edfu, to the
Red Sea. It ran some 230 km (142 mi) before finally intersecting
the Red Sea coast road. Along the way it passed through what
is now historic landscape where much of early Egypt's gold was
mined. It's still in use today.
Gold is still being
mined in the Marsa Alam Egypt area. In fact the two main communities
in the region probably owe their existance to man's lust for
gold. Just off the road lies Wadi Barmiya, Several gold mining
operations are known. Just off this road is an area called Wadi
Barmiya, and approximately 30 kilometers further into the mountains
is Wadi Miya, home to a temple built by Seti I.
In addition, a wealth
of rock inscriptions from as early as the pre-dynastic period
may also be found along this route near Marsa Alam Egypt. The
smooth rock faces were an ideal canvas for ancient graffiti,
which dates from the earliest times right up until the present.
This ancient graffiti depicts animals, including giraffes and
cattle, and also includes hunting scenes, such as an ostrich
hunt with dogs. Unfortunately, with the expansion of this road,
many if not all of these inscriptions will be lost soon.
While this road in
ancient times was used for the gold mining trade, archaeologists
believe its main use was as a trade route between the Nile Valley
and the Red Sea, where an important ancient port was located.
Today, Marsa Alam
Egypt remains a fairly small tourist town, but there is considerable
development underway. The airport is actually part of a larger
project designed to create a state-of-the-art resort area in
Port Ghaleb, including both a 1,000-berth marina and port, with
a dockside harbor, yacht club, and spa, along with a highly
animated town center and a corniche around the marina area.
On the corniche will
be shops, galleries, boutiques, restaurants and bistros, nightclubs,
discos, and a casino. In addition, there will be a conference
center and festival hall, along with a combined desert and links
golf course.
The private marina
will not only be the largest in the Middle East but also an
international sea-gateway for yachts to visit Egypt.
Only a short time
ago, it would seem that most of the accommodations here were
tent camps, but even now, many new, fine hotels have been built.
However, for the moment, the primary reason to visit the mainland
Red Sea community is for the snorkeling and diving.
This whole coastline
is one huge reef of exceptional quality with new dive sites
being discovered all the time. Dive sites such as Elphinstone
(famous for its Hammerheads!) and Dolphin Reef, previously only
accessible to southern Red Sea liveaboards, can now be dived
by day boats from Marsa Alam Egypt.
The primary dive
sites in the Marsa Alam Egypt area include:
Elphinstone Reef
With sheer walls plunging down to over 70 meters, Elphinstone
Reef is the mythic dive site of the south. The walls plunge
deep into the blue-richly decorated with soft, bright pink,
red, white, and brown corals, sponges, gorgonia, and fans. Pelargic,
and Wrasse may also be seen. The northern plateau is home to
schooling Hammerheads with frequent sightings of oceanic gray,
White-tip Sharks, along with Barracuda, numerous big Jacks and
even Tuna.
Shaab Marsa Alam
Egypt A large reef in front of the last southern civilian town
on the Egyptian coastline. Corals gardens have formed near huge
coral blocks, "porites," and there are shoals of Banners, Goatfish,
Snappers and Jacks.
Shaab Samadai A horseshoe
shaped reef, which creates a shallow turquoise water lagoon
where a large herd of Spinner Dolphins live permanently. Others
often show up around noon for a rest and to teach their babies
how to hunt. Several dives are found on its outer walls. The
western tip provides a large group of pinnacles rising to the
surface from a carpet of sea grass, populated by schools of
reef fish.
Daedalus Reef A huge
round reef with a lighthouse more than 40 miles away from the
coast, features an excellent opportunity for spotting big pelargics
all around its steep walls with an extreme variety of fish and
coral. Strong currents are possible.
Shaab Sharm (Gota
Sharm) A big reef with big walls, Hammerhead and Grey Reef Sharks
in summer, Malabar Grouper, Barracudas, and schooling reef fish
the rest of the year. Also present are currents, soft corals,
and giant fans.
Abu Galawa On "Fury
Shoal" group, this reef has a good hard coral garden on the
north side, and a wreck of an old tugboat fully covered with
corals leaning on a pinnacle on the south side.
Shaab Mansour (Shaab
Maksur) Good dives on both north and south plateaus, with strong
currents, which favor the growth of all types of coral, including
black, soft, and fans. Sharks, Napoleon, and Tuna thrive here.
Sataya (Dolphin Reef)
Also named "Dolphin Reef," this is a huge barrier reef that
offers a sheltered inner lagoon and shear walls on the outside-schooling
Hammerhead, large Tuna, and Jacks.
Zabargat (Zabargad)
Imagine an enormous mountain coming out of the water, surrounded
by a lagoon and circling reef including a couple of wrecks and
some decent diving with a great variety of both corals and reef
fish. Most likely, ancient Egyptians mined this island for precious
stones.
Rocky Island As a
tiny rock emerging a few feet out of the water, it offers one
of the most incredible underwater scenarios of the whole Red
Sea. Steep walls falling into the deep blue, currents, soft
corals, a great abundance of Pelargics, and all kinds of fish.
Red Sea Islands There are 24 islands in the Red sea, all of
which are rich with fauna and flora. The most important of which
are:
-
Emerald Island
opposite to the coast of Berenice
-
Greater and Lesser
Giftoun Islands near the coast of Hurghada
-
Abu Minqar Island
opposite the Hurghada Sheraton Hotel
-
Shedwan Island,
on which a lighthouse stands, about 35 km from the coast
of Hurghada
Cairo, Giza
Cairo, the capital
of Egypt, is located at the Nile River 15 km south of the area
where the river divides into the two streams of Damietta and
Rosetta and the beginning of the Nile delta.
With an estimated
population of 15-17 million (1994) it is one of the largest
cities in the world. It is the cultural, political, administrative,
industrial and tourist centre of not only Egypt but all the
Middle East.
Welcome to the vivid
capital of Egypt
The oldest part of
the Cairo, Egypt is situated on the flat country between the
Nile River and the Muqattam mountain on the east bank.
From here the city
has spread approximately 35 kilometres north and southbound
along the Nile. At the western bank it has spread down to the
Giza Pyramids.
The Nile islands
of Zamalek and Roda are a completely integrated part of the
city.
Along the Nile you
will find modern skyscrapers and luxury hotels while the old
city with its narrow streets, the and the religious university
al-Azhar is to be found only a few kilometres away.
Modern
Hotels and Skyscrabers along the Nile
The climate in the
Cairo Egypt is warm, dry and pleasant compared to other Middle
Eastern cities. This has made the city a popular refuge for
Persian Gulf Arabs during the summer.
Tourist Attractions in Cairo
In and around the
city the attractions are plenty: Khan el-Khalili Bazaar Khan
el-Khalili is one of the largest bazaars in the Middle East.
The Pyramids of Giza
The famous Great Pyramids of Giza are located just outside of
Cairo. Memphis and Saqqara Memphis was the oldest Egyptian capital
and Saqqara the oldest cemetery.
Christian Monuments
Because of the Copts there are many beautyful Christian monuments
in Cairo. Islamic Monuments There are more 600 Islamic mosques
and monuments in Cairo. Modern Attractions As a modern metropole
Cairo has some spectacular modern attractions, too.
Khufu
Pyramid, Giza Plateau - Cairo
Khufu
Pyramid with Queens' Pyramids, Giza Plateau - Cairo
Cheops
Pyramid, Giza Plateau - Cairo
Step
Pyramid - Saqqara
Bent
Pyramid - Dashur
Maidum
Pyramid - Maidum
Luxor
Luxor Egypt is located
in upper Egypt 675 km south of Cairo on the right bank of the
Nile river.
Luxor includes the
village of Karnak (Karnak Temple) to the northeast and the ancient
monuments and the burial ground, Valley of The Kings, on the
other side of the Nile and, of course, the Luxor Temple. Ancient
Egypt Temples KARNAK
The Karnak Temple
is located on the east side of the Nile, just north of the Temple
of Luxor. The temple of Karnak was known as Ipet-isut (most
select of places) by the ancient Egyptians. It is a city of
temples built over 2000 years and dedicated to the Theben triad
of Amun, Mut and Khonsu.
Massive
Column - Karnak Temple Ancient Egypt Temples Karnak
This derelict place
is still capable of overshadowing many of the wonders of the
modern world, and in its day must have been awe inspiring.
For the largely uneducated
ancient Egyptian population this could only have been the place
of the gods. It is the mother of all religious buildings, the
largest ever made, and a place of pilgrimage for nearly 4,000
years. Although, today's pilgrims are mainly tourists.
It covers about 200
acres - 1.5km by 0.8km. The area of the sacred enclosure of
Amun
Massive
Column - Karnak Temple Ancient Egypt Temples Karnak
This derelict place
is still capable of overshadowing many of the wonders of the
modern world, and in its day must have been awe inspiring.
For the largely uneducated
ancient Egyptian population this could only have been the place
of the gods. It is the mother of all religious buildings, the
largest ever made, and a place of pilgrimage for nearly 4,000
years. Although, today's pilgrims are mainly tourists.
It covers about 200
acres - 1.5km by 0.8km. The area of the sacred enclosure of
Amun alone is 61 acres, and would hold ten average-sized European
cathedrals. The Hypostyle hall, at 54,000 square feet, and with
its 134 columns (the tallest of the 134 columns reaches a height
of 23 meters) is still the largest room of any religious building
in the world. In this enormous forest of columns you get a genuine
feeling of the wealth of the New Kingdom and of the importance
of Amun as the State-God.
Hypostyle
Hall Ancient Egypt Temples Karnak
Karnak is the home
of the god Amun who was an insignificant local god until the
12th dynasty when Thebes became the capital of Egypt. He was
represented in his original state as a goose and later as a
ram, at the height of his power he was shown as a human with
a head dress of feathers - all that remained of the goose.
In ancient times
wars were not fought between countries but were considered as
contests between gods. One deity subduing and replacing another,
the victorious god and its people growing in strength. This
is how Amun, with the help of Thutmose III and various other
New Kingdom kings, rose to become the first supreme god of the
known world and was hailed as God of gods.
Little is known of
him, unlike most other gods he has no legends or miracles to
impress his worshippers and seems to be closer to an abstract
idea of a godhead. His followers came from all the strata of
society and he was known to some as 'Vizier of the poor.'
All ancient Egyptian
temples had a sacred lake, Karnak's is the largest. It was used
during festivals when images of the gods would sail across it
on golden barges.
Sacred
Lake, Karnak Ancient Egypt Temples Karnak
The water supply
to the lake, which symbolized the primeval ocean Nun, comes
directly from the Nile. Next to the lake is a small café where
you can pit stop in the shade and fantasize about the temple
in its golden ages.
Ancient Egypt Temples
LUXOR
The Luxor Temple
has many fascinating aspects and features that continue to attract
multitudes of people:
The Luxor Temple
The temple of Luxor, some 260 m (850 ft) long today, was built
by Amenophis III on the foundations of a previous religious
structure, dating from the time of Queen Hatshepsut.
The Colonnades One
of the glories of the ancient Egyptian temple of Luxor is a
majestic colonnade dating to the reign of Amenophis III, with
14 columns with papyrus-shaped capitals standing 18 m (60 ft)
tall, and almost 10 m (33 ft) in circumference.
The
Colonnade Ancient Egypt Temples Luxor
The colonnade is
enclosed on both sides by a masonry curtain wall, with reliefs
depicting various phases of the Festival of Opet, completed
and decorated during the reigns of Tutankhamun and Horemheb.
A magnificent courtyard
follows; it is lined with a double row of columns, and bordered
to the south by the hypostyle hall, which itself contains 32
gigantic columns.
From here, the visitor
passes on to the inner section of the attraction where there
is a series of four antechambers and ancillary rooms, as well
as the Sanctuary of the Sacred Barque, situated in the innermost
room. The chapel was rebuilt by Alexander the Great. The ceremonies
that took place in the temple of Luxor were of great importance,
and their religious symbolism complex. During the Festival of
Opet, the feast of the royal jubilee, the divine rebirth of
the pharaoh, son of Amun, was celebrated, reaffirming in this
way his power.
The ancient Egyptian
temple of Luxor also served as a shrine for the worship of the
divine and immortal portion of the pharaoh, the royal "ka",
symbol of the legitimacy of the pharaoh's power, which was universal
and not restricted to any individual pharaoh.
In terms of purity
of structural design and the elegance of its columns, the temple
is one of the most remarkable architectural achievements of
the New Kingdom. The Courtyard of Ramsees II The courtyard of
Ramses II, is surrounded by a peristyle of 74 papyrus columns
arranged in a double row and adorned with 16 statues of the
pharaoh, and incorporates a three-part chapel on the northern
side, also dedicated to the Theban triad and dating to Hatshepsut's
reign.
Ramses
II Ancient Egypt Temples Luxor
The Obelisks Also
dating to the reign of Ramsees II are two large obelisks that
once stood before the first pylon (a word derived from the Greek
meaning 'gateway') and which were given to France by the ruler
of Egypt, Mohammad Ali, in 1819.
Obelisk
Ancient Egypt Temples Luxor
The western obelisk,
more than 21 m (70 ft) tall and weighing 210 tons, was removed
by the French in 1836 and erected in Paris in the Place de la
Concorde. All claims to ownership over the second obelisk, which
remained in its position in Egypt, were renounced by France
in 1980.
The Abu El Haggag
Mosque On the eastern side of the courtyard a Byzantine church
was built in the sixth century AD, and on top of that, during
the reign of the Ayyubid sultans (thirteenth century AD), the
mosque of Abu El-Haggag was built. This Egyptian tourist attraction
is still in use today as a place of prayer.
The
Mosque of Abu El-Haggag
The Mummification
Museum This small and fairly new attraction illustrates the
fine art of embalming and mummification with wall pictures and
archaeological artefacts.
Valley of the
Kings, West Bank in Luxor
The desert valley
on the west bank of Thebes is best known as Valley of the Kings,
Egypt.
The location was
the political and religious capital of the New Kingdom, and
was first used as a royal necropolis by Thutmosis I, although
it was his predecessor, Amenhotep I, who was considered the
patron-god of the valley by the actual builders of the tombs.
The
Pyramid Shaped Mountain, Valley of the Kings Egypt
The last known king
to have built a tomb in the Valley was Ramsees XI, the last
king of the New Kingdom, although it is doubtful that he ever
used that tomb.
Despite its modern
name, the majority of its tombs were not built for members
of the royal family and entourage.
The valley of the
Kings Egypt has two main branches: the East Valley, where most
of the royal tombs are situated, and the West Valley, which
contains only the tombs of Amenhotep III and Ay, and some pits.
The tombs of most
of the New Kingdom kings have been discovered over the years;
some were already open to public during the Greek-Roman era,
others have only recently been unearthed.
All of the tombs
have fallen victim to one or several visits by tomb robbers,
even the famous tomb of Tutankhamun that was discovered almost
intact in 1922 by Howard Carter.
In an effort to save
the royal mummies of these attractions from destruction, and
to salvage the remaining treasures of the royal tombs, the priests
of the end of the 20th and the 21st Dynasty opened the tombs,
collected the mummies and buried them in two or more "caches".
Tomb
- Valley of the Kings Egypt
The first "cache"
was a rock tomb high up in the mountains of Deir el-Bahri that
was probably intended as the family tomb of the 21st Dynasty
king-priests. The second "cache" was the tomb of 18th Dynasty
king Amenhotep II.
Not every royal mummy
of the New Kingdom has been found, so there is room for the
hypothesis that there may have been a third "cache" which has
not yet been identified as such or which has not yet been discovered.
The only royal mummies
to have been found in their own tombs were those of Amenhotep
II, who was re-buried in his own tomb by the 21st Dynasty priests,
and Tutankhamun, whose tomb lay undisturbed from the middle
of the 20th Dynasty on.
Hathor
Nursing Hatshepsut, Deir el-Bahri near Luxor
Hatshepsut's
Temple, Deir El Bahri - Valley of the Kings
King's
Head, Ramesseum - Valley of the Kings
Inner
Court, Ramsees III - Medinet Habu
The West Bank
Luxor Egypt is highly
influenced by tourism. You will find modern hotels and large
bazaar areas and a growing stream of Nile cruise boats sails
between Luxor and Aswan. A little south of the city there is
a bridge crossing the river. Despite of the influence of tourism
Luxor is still a minor city with old houses and buildings.
colossi
of memnon luxor west bank
The city has next
to no industry, but its surroundings illustrate traditional
farming methods, and on its small streets there are hundreds
of workshops manufacturing souvenirs. There is a railroad to
Cairo and Aswan. Furthermore, Luxor has a harbour and a ferry
line to cross the Nile.
Aswan
Aswan is the southern-most
city in Egypt, located 800 km south of Cairo at the first of
six cataracts on the Nile. The city is an old commercial town
and in antiquity it was known under the name of Syene.
Since construction
of the Aswan Dam the city has become an important industrial
centre with steel, aluminium and chemical industries based on
the electrical power drawn from the turbines of the Dam.
Nubian
Crossing the Nile
During the winter
season the city is a junction for tourist voyages on the Nile
and the starting point for tours to the Abu Simpel temple. The
climate is warm and dry all year through. During winter the
daily temperatures reaches 23-30 C, during summer they easily
reach 28-50 C.
As a vacation destination,
Aswan has been a favourite winter resort since the beginning
of the nineteenth century, and it is still a perfect place to
get away from it all.
The Monastery of
St. Simeon Ride a camel or climb to the ruins of the Coptic
Monastery of St. Simeon, originally founded in the 7th century
AD.
Monastery
of Saint Simeon
Rebuilt in the 10th
century and eventually destroyed by Salah al-Din in 1173, the
monastery was a base for missionary monks who converted the
Nubians to Christianity. Frescoes of the Apostles still remain
in the roofless Basilica.
The Unfinished Obelisk
Much of the red granite used for ancient temples and colossi
came from quarries in the Aswan area.
The
Unfinished Obelisk
The Unfinished Obelisk
still lies where a crack was discovered as it was being hewn
from the rock. Possibly intended as a companion to the Lateran
obelisk, originally at the Karnak Temple, now in Rome, it would
have measured 120 ft and weighed over 1150 tons when complete.
The site has recently
been renovated and equipped with tourist facilities.
Nearby is the Fatimide
cemetery, hundreds of mud-brick tombs dating back to the 9th
Century AD.
The Tombs of The
Nobles The northern hills of the west bank are filled with rock-hewn
tombs of princes from the Old Kingdom to the Roman period. At
night they are illuminated with hidden spotlights and can be
clearly seen from Aswan.
Inside, the tombs
are decorated with vivid wall paintings showing scenes of everyday
life, hieroglyphic biographies and inscriptions telling of the
noblemen's journeys into Africa.
Elephantine Island
The ancient stronghold of Elephantine lsland separates the Nile
into two channels opposite Aswan. Walk through Nubian villages
to the small museum, set in shady gardens, nearby is the ruins
of Abu, settled by ancient Egyptians who believed it to be near
the source of the Nile.
The remains of the
many temples that were built here can still be seen, including
the Temple of Khnum, originally erected during the Old Kingdom,
a Graeco-Roman Necropolis and the Temple of Satet, built by
Queen Hatshepsut.
Temple
of Khnum
Kalabsha Temple Kalabsha
Temple was moved to its present location in 1970, together with
other attractions from Nubia.
Reachable by taxi
or by boat, depending on the water level, the sandstone edifice
was built by the Roman Emperor Octavius Augustus and dedicated
to the fertilitiy god Mandulis.
The Kiosk of Qertassi,
with its two Hathor-headed columns, was moved at the same time
and now stands near the water commanding fine views over Lake
Nasser.
Nearby, dug into
the hillside, is another of Ramses II's Nubian monuments to
military might; Beit al-Wali celebrates his victories over the
Nubian, Ethiopians, Asiatics and Libyans and brightly-coloured
scenes inside the temple show Ramsees making offerings to the
gods.
Philae Temple Philae
Temple was dismantled and reassembled (on Agilika lsland about
500m. from its original home on Philae Island) in the wake of
the High Dam.
Philae
Temple dedicated to Isis
Grand
Portico of the Temple of Philae
The temple, dedicated
to the goddess Isis, is in a beautiful setting which has been
landscaped to match its original site. Its various shrines and
sanctuaries, which include a temple of Hathor, a Birth House
and two pylons, celebrate all the deities involved in the Isis
and Osiris myth.
At night, one should
visit the Sound and Light Show, a magical experience as floodlit
buildings are silhouetted against the volcanic rocks and water
surrounding them.
Aswan also have modern
attractions for the interested traveler to explore.
Aswan Cultural Centre
One of Aswan's attractions is it's Cultural Centre. Every night
Nubian dancers and musicians give performance just off the corniche.
Folklore troupes recreate from village life and perform the
famous Nubian mock stick-fight dances.
The Aga Khan Mausoleum
Take a felucca to the Aga Khan Mausoleum, atop a hill at the
southern end of the west bank.
The
Aga Khan Mausoleum
The Aga Khan used
to spend every winter in Aswan and was buried here in this magnificent
mausoleum, modelled on the Fatimid tombs in Cairo.
Kitchener Island
The Island was given to General-Consul Horatio Kitchener, the
leader of the Egyptian army in the 1890s. The botanically-interested
Consul brought vegetation from India, Malaysia and other eastern
countries to plant on the Island.
Kitchener
Island
It's a lovely place
to spend a quiet afternoon. The only means of transportation
is on a felukka or a motor boat.
The High Dam The
world-famous High Dam was an engineering miracle when it was
built in the 1960s. Today it provides irrigation and electricity
for the whole of Egypt and, together with the old Aswan Dam,
6 km downriver, it is a wonderful view for visitors.
Nuweiba
Along the Aquaba
coast of the Red Sea in Sinai, a little south of Taba, the town
of Nuweiba stretches for 7 km. It has been there for some time,
but only recently have tourist investors discovered it. Now
you will find several new hotels strung out along the coast
both north and south of town. Nuweiba Tarabin, the northern
part, is basically nothing more than a thick palm grove, the
ruins of a Turkish fort, and a rather shallow bay. But inside
the ruins is a very important commodity; there is a well from
which the Bedoins have drawn fresh, cool water for centuries.
Families of the Tarabin
tribe, who occupy the area north of Nuweiba, were among the
first settlers early in the 80's. It was then that the Bedouins
first established a few basic accomodations, using mere scar
metal wood found in the immediate area. But soon, what with
the increase in tourism and an improved infrastructure, small
hotels and campsites popped up all along the bay.
Tarabin is well known
for its unusual and entertaining, oriental atmosphere. Restaurants
next to restaurants, and bazaars next to bazaars, give thetraveler
the impression he is in a true oriental market place. Along
the beach lie the Bedoin-style restaurants; here you may recline
in luxurious leisure, made comfortable beyond words by lush
carpets and cushions. Lay back, relax, let time slide by.
The town itself is
quaint, in the good sense of the word. For instance, just opposite
the small commercial center is a public bakery that provides
wonderful, fresh pita bread from early morning until midday.
You can take a little path from there to the post office. You
will even find a 24-hour telephone communication complex, the
"Central," where you can purchase telephone cards. Not too distant,
separated by a little park, is the Nuweiba veteran center with
bazaars, supermarkets, and vegetable stands and shops. This
area is great for low-budget tourism, with its bazaar
atmosphere ala Khan El Khalili.
Nuweiba Town and
Nuweiba Muzeina (Nuweiba Port) are connected by dunes. You will
find many smaller-scale hotes and camps adorning the beautiful,
sandy beaches of this region of the coastline. Off shore lie
spectacular coral reefs.
The Dunes are actually
two dunes, "Duna" and "small Duna." Most of the campsites and
hotels are built in the southern, small Duna, while Duna remains
more of a romantic, virgin place, with simple accommodations
and a few small restaurants with spectacular views.
Nuweiba Port (Nuweiba
Muzeina) is the industrial area. Trade business between Egypt
and the Arab countries on the other side of the Gulf of Aqaba
increased due to the construction of the port in 1985. Then
a mountain highway was built to connect mainland Egypt with
the Sinai Peninsula, partly to accommodate this trade.
Here one can buy
duty-free goods. You will find several banks near the entrance
to the port. This is also where you can purchase tickets for
the ferry to Jordan. The common area has many shops and supermarkets
where you can some great bargains on commodities not available
in Nuweiba Town itself. You will also find some very good, cheap,
local restaurants in the area.
Ayn Soukhna
Ayn Sukhna is located
about 55 km south of Suez, it is one of the most beautiful spots
on the Red Sea riviera and the one nearest to Cairo (2½ hours
by car).
Both a summer and
winter resort, its sandy beach equals the best in the world
and is suitable for camping. It is an excellent spot for water
sports, fishing and underwater photography.
Ain Soukhna is Egyptian
for "hot spring", denoting the nearby sulfur springs found at
a nearby mountain, Gebel Ataqa. This region stretches from just
south of Suez on down the coast for about sixty kilometers.
Scattered along the coast-hugging road are a port, a series
of resort complexes, a few independent restaurants, gas stations,
and other tourist businesses.
It is not suprising
that this area is so well developed, since it represents the
closest beaches to Cairo, one of the world's largest cities.
Until recently, Ain
Soukhna was mainly an Egyptian vacation spot. Now it is an international
destination. Nonetheless, most of the resort complexes consist
mainly of vacation villas owned by upper and upper middle-class
Egyptians.
Many, though certainly
not all of the complexes, also provide hotel accommodations.
These range all the way from rather quaint facilities for middle
class Egyptians (and probably some Europeans) to international
5-Star hotels.
Ain Soukhna is very
convenient for the population of Cairo, and also for international
tourists, particularly if a beach vacation is not the main goal
of the traveler. Typically, classic tours of Egypt travel primarily
along the Nile Valley, notably visiting sites in and around
Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan.
Ususally, when tourists
want to travel to the Red Sea, they head for either Hurghada
on the Egyptian Red Sea or Sharm el-Sheikh at the southern end
of the Sinai. The problem is, this journey can take several
hours. Both locations involve what is basically a short flight,
but when baggage checking and all the other requirements of
flying in today's security-conscious environment, your short
trip can cost several precious hours of vacation time. Still,
not a bad way to go if you have the time to spare.
Another choice is
to motor by bus from Luxor to Hurghada, about a five-hour trip.
Unfortunately, though, these tours often have to join up with
a security convoy; this can sometimes consume a lot of time
to organize. Also, people often complain that these convoys
travel recklessly fast. Nonetheless, this is probably the least
expensive mode of travel to the Red Sea.
On the other hand,
Ain Soukhna is a mere two-hour drive from Cairo. Even better,
a new road is currently under construction, and will cut the
travel time to around an hour.
In Hurghada, most
vacationers are pretty much limited to normal beach activities.
Yes, there are many things to do at the beach, but there is
no real sightseeing. However, you can make arrangements to take
a ship along the coast of Hurghada and to Cairo to visit the
Great Pyramids.
If sightseeing is
your thing, Ain Soukhna Egypt should be your destination. If
you're looking for some time at the beach, fly into Cairo and
see a few of the sights, then travel on to spend a few days
in Ain Soukhna.
Whether a beach vacation
is your primary or secondary choice, Ain Soukhna Egypt does
offer a convenient itinerary to several nearby sites. Just to
the north is the Suez Canal. And a mere ninety-minute drive
to the east will bring you to the eastern desert monasteries.
And there are also the more classical tours to places like Sharm
el-Sheikh, where you can prep for a visit to Catherine's Monastery
and Mount Sinai, each an extraordinary experience.
In the eastern desert,
you will find the Monastery of St. Anthony. It is the world's
oldest functioning monastery, and was founded in honor of the
saint given credit for founding monasticism. Fortunately, this
monastery has recently been restored. Also, nearby is the ancient
monastery of St. Paul. Furthermore, St. Catherine's is much
further away from Sharm el-Shiekh than St. Anthony's is from
Ain Soukhna.
When planning your
Ain Soukhna Egypt itinerary, you can schedule a visit to the
Suez Canal and the eastern desert monasteries in the same amount
of time required to visit only St. Catherine's from Sharm el-Sheikh,
with time left over at the beach - all at much less expense
than a comparable Hurghada holiday. In fact, when compared to
Sharm el-Sheikh, most of the costs at Ain Soukhna are more reasonable,
given equal facilities (such as 4- or 5-star hotels).
One more thing: Ain
Soukhna Egypt has earned a wonderful reputation for its pristine
beaches and coastal waters. The beaches are very well kept.
The water is crystal clear. And there are at least two excellent,
large resorts, with others under construction.
Al-Qusayr
Located 80 km south
of Safaga, Al-Qusayr is a main port for exporting phosphates.
It is also a suitable site for camping and water sports. A paved
road of 220 km. connects it to Qena. It is the position of the
city, located 85 kilometers south of Safaga and 140 kilometers
south of Hurghada, that once made it one of the most strategic
ports of the Red Sea.
Located right at
the end of the shortest route from the Nile River to the Red
Sea, it was one of Ancient Egypt's earliest and most important
ports. This route was primarily used by Egypt, and other Mediterranean
peoples, to transport goods to and from remote lands.
Probably the most
well-known expedition through ancient Al Quseir was in 1493
BC, when Queen Hatshepsut sent her emissaries to the fabled
land of Punt.
Punt was a very rich
country (identified with current Ethiopia). Hatshepsut sent
her general Senenmet to purchase refined goods such as myrrh,
frankincense, ebony, ivory, and exotic animals.
The Ottoman era was
a flourishing period in the history of Al Quseir. The Ottomans
felt that it was a necessity to protect the city against invaders;
therefore, they built a fortress, a military stronghold. Later
on, the restored fortress at Al Quseir Egypt was the main departing
point for pilgrims bound to Mecca, on the opposite shore of
the Red Sea.
The Islamic influence
is still found in the exquisite architecture displayed by many
of the buildings in town, with their intricate wooden terraces
and mashrabiyyas.
After the Ottoman
Period, first Napoleon, and then the British Empire occupied
it as a key port.
Only the building
of the Suez Canal in 1869 led to a decay of the town. With the
crossing to the Mediterranean suddenly made easier, Al Quseir
Egypt lost its prominent place as a link between the Occident
and the Orient.
Nowadays, most of
the residents have changed their activities from industrial
or fishing to tourism. The narrow streets of the town have made
it a perfect spot for the colored bazaars, which have a Bedouin
accent.
The winter months
are an ideal time to explore the many ancient historical sites,
most of which are easily reachable. Al Quseir's burgeoning tourism
industry is definitely a year-round affair.
Today, the city remains
a quiet resort with sandy beaches and coral reefs; it is a wonderful
destination for diving. It has also become an environmentally
aware area. Thus, thankfully, the region's stunning coral reefs
are well preserved.
Furthermore, since
Al Quseir Egypt is not only a seaside resort, but also one of
historical importance, local officials are trying to ensure
the city's heritage is kept safe. Old buildings built in the
classic French and British styles, with large terraces and wooden
balconies, are being protected from being sold and demolished.
The recently restored
fort now hosts a fascinating Visitors' Center with displays
of local history, archaeology, and culture.
Plus, for the tourist,
there are many more equally interesting sites to be found in
the immediate area, such as the mines at Bir Umm Fawakir, the
rock pictures at Wadi Russumat, and the vast Roman settlement
at Mons Claudianus.
Lake Nasser
As the
worlds largest man-made lake, Lake Nasser is approximately 310
miles in length (1550 square miles) and, in places, can reach
a depth of 600 feet. The lake was created in the 1960s when
the world famous High Dam was built.
Together
with the old Aswan Dam (built by the British between 1898 and
1902) it provides irrigation and electricity for the whole of
Egypt. It is named for Gamal Abdel Nasser, president of Egypt
from 1956-1970. The southern third of the lake is in Sudan and
is called Lake Nubia.
The
lake is 312 miles (480 meters) long and covers an area of 2026
square miles (5,248 km2). It has a maximum depth of 426.5
ft (130 m) but its mean depth is 82.6 ft (25.2 m). The Egyptian
portion is 202 miles (324 km) long and has a shoreline of 4,875
miles (7,844 km).
Part
of the area Lake Nasser covers today was once the site of the
temples of Abu Simbel, built by Ramses II around 1200 B.C.
The temple was moved but other sites of historical significance
was submerged. Thirty-two species of fish, as well as Nile River
crocodiles, are found in the lake. 80,000 tons of fish
a year are caught.
The shoreline is a variety of desert landscapes, hilly and rugged,
or flat and sandy with clean freshwater beaches. The lake is
remote and thinly populated by peasant fishermen, the local
residents are Bedouin camel and sheep herdsmen who are occasionally
seen grazing their flocks on the sparse vegetation at the edge
of the lake.
There are an impressive variety of birds, mammals, and reptiles.
More than 100 species of birds have been recorded: Wild duck,
Egyptian geese, pelicans, herons, egrets and various species
of hawks, kites, falcons and eagles will be among the birds
seen. In most areas there are crocodile and monitor lizards,
other types of wildlife include Dorcas gazelle, jackals, desert
fox, and various smaller desert mammals.
Lake
Nasser is a place where a small group of anglers have literally
hundreds of square miles to themselves.
Lake Nasser has arguably the best freshwater fishing in the
world for both Nile perch and Tiger Fish. There are also several
species of catfish; the legendary giant Vundu being the biggest.
Two species of Tilapia also inhabit the lake and give a good
account of themselves on a fly rod. All told there are some
thirty two species of fish in the lake.
Abu Simbel
Not only are the
two temples at Abu Simbel among the most magnificent monuments
in the world but their removal and reconstruction was an historic
event in itself. When the temples (280 km from Aswan) were threatened
by submersion in Lake Nasser, due to the construction of the
High Dam, the Egyptian Government secured the support of UNESCO
and launched a world wide appeal.
During the salvage operation which began in
1964 and continued until 1968, the two temples were dismantled
and raised over 60 meters up the sandstone cliff where they
had been built more than 3,000 years before. Here they were
reassembled, in the exact same relationship to each other and
the sun, and covered with an artificial mountain.
Most of the joins in the stone have now been
filled by antiquity experts, but inside the temples it is still
possible to see where the blocks were cut. You can also go inside
the man made dome and see an exhibition of photographs showing
the different stages of the massive removal project.
Abu Simbel was first reported by J. L. Burckhardt
in 1813, when he came over the mountain and only saw the facade
of the great temple as he was preparing to leave that area via
the Nile. The two temples, that of Ramesses II primarily dedicated
to Re-Harakhte, and that of his wife, Nefertari dedicated to
Hathor, became a must see for Victorians visiting Egypt, even
though it required a trip up the Nile, and often they were covered
deeply in sand, as they were when Burckhardt found them.
Bahariya Oasis
Set in a depression
covering over 2000 sq. km., Bahariya Oasis is surrounded by
black hills made up of ferruginous quartzite and dolorite. Most
of the villages and cultivated land can be viewed from the top
of the 50-meter-high Jebel al-Mi'ysrah, together with the massive
dunes which threaten to engulf some of the older settlements.
The Oasis was a major
agricultural center during the Pharaonic era, and has been famous
for its wine as far back as the Middle Kingdom. During
the fourth century, the absence of Roman rule and violent tribes
in the area caused a decline as some of the oasis was reclaimed
by the sand.
Wildlife is plentiful,
especially birds such as wheatears; crops (which only cover
a small percentage of the total area) include dates, olives,
apricots, rice and corn.
There are a number
of springs in the area, some very hot, such as Bir ar-Ramla
but probably the best is Bir al-Ghaba, about 10 miles north
east of Bawiti. There is also Bir al-Mattar, a cold springs
which poors into a concrete pool Otherwise near the Oasis is
the Black and White deserts, though traveling to the White desert
seems not practical from the oasis.
The Black Desert
was formed through wind erosion as the nearby volcanic mountains
were spewed over the desert floor.
Finally, there are
the ruins of a 17th Dynasty temple and settlement, and nearby
tombs where birds were buried.
Farafra Oasis
Farafra, known as
Ta-iht or the Land of the Cow in pharaonic times, is a single
village. The most isolated of the New Valley Oases it is renowned
for its strong traditions and piety. According to folklore,
the villagers once lost track of time and had to send a rider
to Dakhla so they could hold the Friday prayers on the right
day. The oldest part of the village, on a hillside, is next
to peaceful walled palm groves; a short ride away there are
hot sulphur springs at Bir Setta and swimming at El-Mufid Lake.
Mostly inhabited by Bedouins, the small mud-brick houses
all have wooden doorways with medieval peg locks. As in other
oases, many of Farafra's houses are painted blue (to ward off
the Evil Eye) but here some are also decorated with landscapes,
birds and animals, the handiwork of local artist, Badr. A combination
house, museum and studio exhibiting his paintings and ceramics
is situated in a garden full of sculptures made from objects
found in the surrounding desert.
Another local, known as Mr. Socks, sells beautiful
hand-knitted camel-hair sweaters, socks and scarves. Day trips
by jeep and camel treks from here to the White Desert, Bahariya,
Dakhla and Siwa can be arranged through Saad's Restaurant.
El Kharga Oasis
Kharga used to be
the last but one stop on The Forty Days Road, the infamous slave-trade
route between North Africa and the tropical south. Today, it
is the biggest New Valley oasis and its modern city houses 60,000
people, including 1,000 Nubians who moved here after the creation
of lake Nasser. Outside the main center is the Temple of Hibis,
built on the site of an 18th dynasty settlement of Saites, Persians
and Ptolemies One of the few Persian monuments in Egypt, the
6th century BC temple is well-preserved with painted vultures
and huge reliefs of Darius greeting Egyptian gods on the outer
walls.
Ten kilometers away,
the Necropolis of al-Bagawat contains 263 mud-brick chapels
with Coptic murals, including the Chapel of Peace with images
of Adam and Eve and the Ark on its dome and the Chapel of the
Exodus with frescoes of pharaonic troops pursuing the Jews led
by Moses, out of Egypt. Pharaonic monuments include the al-Hhuwaytah
Temple which dates from 522 BC and the Temple of Amenebis.
The thermal springs at Bulaq and Nasser villages to the south,
are famous for water temperatures of up to 43 C and reputed
to be suitable for the treatment of rheumatism and allergies.
Camping facilities are available near both villages. Further
south is Baris Oasis, the second largest settlement in Kharga.
Houses designed in traditional Nubian style by Hassan Fathy
remain uninhabited- local people refused to live in them because
of their similarity to tombs and building stopped in the late
1960s. Ancient monuments include the Temple of
Dush, dedicated to Isis and Serapis.
Its name derives
from Kush, the ancient Sudanese capital which traded with Egypt
along the Nile. Archeologists are still unearthing the ancient
city of Kysis and elaborate system of clay pipes and abandoned
Christian church, suggest that Kysis was abandoned when its
underground springs dried up but the exact date remains a mystery.
El Dakhla Oasis
The Dakhla Oasis
lies to the northwest of Kharga and is also about 310 km to
the southeast of Farafra. This oasis consists of 14 settlements
and has a population of about 70,000 people. Dakhla is the farthest
oasis out of Cairo and is considered one of Egypt's most beautiful
oases.
Dakhla sits in a depression surrounded by pink cliffs. There
are about 30,000 acres of cultivated land. Most of its 70,000
or so residents are farmers who constantly fight the battle
of the dunes that threaten their fields and orchards. The fields
and gardens are filled mostly with mulberry trees, date palms,
figs and other citrus fruits. Dakhla has retained most of its
culture and charm even though it has increased in size by about
double and government funding and technical training has revitalized
the economy. Dakhla is the only place in Egypt where new water
wheels which are driven by buffaloes are constructed. They are
made of palm timber and clay jars and are called saqiyas. The
oasis is connected to Kharga by a 120 mile (200 km) road that
has buses running daily.
Research has found that the Oasis has been inhabited since
prehistoric times, and that there was once a huge lake here.
There are neolithic rock paintings that indicate that the lake
was frequented by elephants, buffaloes and ostriches. As the
lake dried up, the inhabitants migrated to the Nile valley and
were probably some of its first settlers.
Dakhla Oasis is dominated on its northern horizon by a wall
of rose-Colored rock. Fertile cultivated areas growing rice,
peanuts and fruit are dotted between sand dunes along the roads
from Farafra and Kharga in this area of outstanding natural
beauty. The capital, Mut, named after the ancient goddess of
the Theban Triad, houses the Museum of the Inheritance, a traditional
house, with an intricate wooden combination lock. Rooms, with
sculpted clay figures, are arranged to show different aspects
of Dakhlan culture and family life.
Al-Kasr, about 35 km. from Mut, was originally a Roman settlement
which later became the medieval capital of Dakhla. The old town
is a labyrinth of mud-walled alleys narrowly separating houses
with elaborately- carved wooden lintels; there is also an Ayyubid
mosque. Climb to the rooftop of the 10th century madrassa (school)
for wonderful views of the surrounding area. Bir al-Gabel, a
palm-fringed salt lake where you can camp and picnic, is on
the road back to Mut.
