Must See Temples and Monuments of Egypt Egypt’s Temples, Monuments and Pyramids The Great Monuments and Temples of Egypt Great History to Explore in Egypt Things to See in Egypt
Egypt: A mystical country at the top of every explorers destination list. After all it houses the greatest monuments on earth. Its temples and pyramids are world famous and they have intrigued the human race for centuries.
While visiting this ancient city, you can imagine being back in the time of the Pharaohs. People still dress traditionally wearing their headscarfs and bedouin wraps. Call to prayer can be heard 5 times a day. There is a strong sense of tradition in the land and you feel as if you are frozen in time. Visiting the great pyramids lets you imagine exactly what life would have been like thousands of years ago.
Built is 2500 BC, the Pyramids of Egypt an incredible sight. You can see them from almost any point in the city, but an up close and personal view is a must. Rent a camel and guide and explore the ruins as the ancient explorers did. You will be away from all of the tour buses and even have the extra bonus of riding through the back alley ways of Cairo.
Once you have explored Cairo, make your way south to Luxor a city located on the Nile River. It is here that you will find The Valley of the Kings, the final resting place for 63 kings and noblemen of ancient time. King Tut was buried here and his chamber can be explored.
Make sure to conceal your camera, as it will be confiscated at the gate. Many people manage to smuggle their cameras into the grounds anyway, just be respectful of not taking photos inside the tombs. They will be taken away for sure as there are guards watching everything.
Rameses IV and Merneptah are two temples not to be missed. Well preserved and interesting, they are both quite different experiences. King Tuts tomb is most likely not open for visitors, but it is not considered and impressive tomb anyway. Only a handful of tombs are open to tourists at any one time, so you are at the mercy of what is open for viewing on the day of your visit. The chambers are all impressive though, simply for the fact that they are thousands of years old. But also with the grand scale of their size and for the scenes painted on their walls that have survived for centuries.
They are comfortable and almost cheerful inside. They were large, bright and colourful giving a sense of peace. Albeit, there arent any sarcophagi left and all jewels and artifacts have either been looted in the past or moved to the Antiquities Museum. Still the valley is a very impressive sight indeed.
Don’t miss visiting the Hatshepsut’s Temple nearby. Another must see destination in Egypt, it is a temple made for one of Egypt’s most successful Pharaohs. What is so interesting about this temple is that it was made for a female king. It is amazing to see that Egypt was ruled by a woman for 21 years, in 1479 BC!
Built in harmony into the side of a cliff, Hatsheput’s Temple is considered to be the most dramatically situated temple on earth. Three tiers lead to the main grounds where statues and pillars create a labyrinth to explore.
It was here that a massacre occurred in 1997 killing 60 tourists. Over a decade later, peace has been restored and tourism is back to normal. However you will see many armed guards around grounds
Luxor Temple While in Luxor, you cannot miss the Luxor Temple. Located right in town on the Nile River, it is an impressive monument. It is lit up at night for breathtaking photo opportunities. A little travel tip…the McDonald’s right across the street has an incredible view of the temple, but not only that, has free Wifi. So you can have lunch, update your blog and take in the sights all at once.
Standing on the banks of Lake Nasser enroute to Sudan is Abu Simbel this temple was originally built on lower ground. With the creation of the Aswan Dam, an enormous undertaking was initiated in the 1960s to move the ruins to higher ground to keep them from becoming submerged under water.
They are now safe and sound and ready for your viewing. Four 20-metre statues representing Rameses II stand guard over the banks of the lake. Built around 1265 BC, three of the statues are still in relatively good shape. You can take a tour from Luxor to see these temples up close and personal, it is well worth the 280km travel from Luxor. Next to the pyramids, they are one of the most recognizable images of Egypt.
Not many destinations rival the ancient country of Egypt. Besides its great temples and monuments, it houses the Sahara Desert, the Nile River and is located on the Red and Mediterranean Sea, there are activities for everyone to enjoy and it will not disappoint even the most jaded traveler.
