LUXOR IS NEXT DOOR
TRAVEL | admin | January 10, 2010 at 1:01 pm
The Arab Republic of Egypt is a country located on the continent of Africa but due to its location, it is also termed a Middle Eastern nation. The central position it occupies on the world atlas makes it easily accessible to people from all parts of the world.
Egypt is indeed a mosaic of enthralling tourist attractions. Its tourist sites are certainly as old as the foundation of civilization. The country has lots of destinations that many will very well like to visit. It is nothing strange to hear of many repeating trips on account of the charge they got off their previous visits; they mostly return in order to see if they can discover something spanking new for them to brag about.
One of the notable Egyptian cities with a large collection of interesting tourist sites is Luxor; it is in Greater Egypt and is home to the largest Alfresco Museum in the world. it is the city where you are liable to discover Magical Egypt.
Luxor was the ancient city of Thebes, the great capital of Egypt for the duration of the New Empire. It was known in Ancient Egyptian manuscripts as T-APT (meaning “the Shrines”) and then, in a later period, the Greeks called it tea pie, which the Arabs later pronounced as Thebes. The city’s present name, Luxor is an Arabic expression which means ‘the palaces’. The city slowly rose to prominence in the 11th dynasty under the reign of King Mento-hotep.
Luxor has a population of 230 thousand people. It has a hot arid climate; Average Daytime temperature is pegged at 25C which makes it a terrific place to visit all year round.
The city boasts of numerous tourists super-sites some of which are the Karnak Temple, the Collosi of Memnon and the Renowned Mummification Museum.
The Karnak Temple is an Egyptian temple that was built over a period of 1300 years; Construction began in the 16th century BC. It is recorded that not less than 30 pharaohs contributed to the buildings, allowing it to reach a size, complexity and diversity not seen elsewhere.
The Karnak temple complex is massive and covers a site almost a mile by two miles in area; it is home to over 25 temples. It was originally dedicated to the Pharaoh Amun; and was the center of his worship and of his wife Mut and their son Khons. There was also an area for Montu, the falcon-headed local god.
The Valley Of The Kings also known as “Wadi el Muluk” is where the tombs of many of the Pharaohs can be found. Inscribed on each tomb are the king’s formal names, titles, effigies and imagery. From the18th to 20th dynasty the kings deserted the Memphis area and built their tombs in Thebes. They also dumped the pyramid style tombs and instead opted for tombs consisting of basically three chambers with an antechamber and a sunken sarcophagus cavity. These burial chambers were more secreted and difficult to steal from. The Book of the dead, the Book of the Underworld, the Book of gates and the Book of Caverns line most of the corridors in the tombs. The tombs possess sets of steps that lead down to their entrance; the entrances in many instances are decorated with the image of the pharaoh worshipping the solar disc with Isis and Nephthys standing behind him; and in rare cases scenes of the sky goddess, Nut, can be found on it. Some of the tombs in this Valley are those of Ramesses III, Tuthmosis III, Ramesses IX, Ramesses VI, Merneptah and Amenhotep II.
The Colossi of Memnon is locally known as El-Colossat. It is characteristically two huge statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III (14th century BC); and they are 3,400 Years old. The initial purpose of the Colossi was to stand sentry at the entrance to Amenohotep’s Memorial Temple- an enormous centre built during the pharaoh’s lifetime; it was here that he was worshipped during and after his reign and lifespan.
Ancient chronicles has it that Memnon was a hero of the Trojan war. He was an Ethiopian king who led armies from Africa to Asia to rescue a city under attack; he was however killed by Achilles.
Things to see at this Iconic site are the twin statues that depict Amenhotep in a seated position; two diminutive figures engraved into the front throne next to his legs: these are his wife Tiy and mother Mutemwia. To the sides is the Nile god Hapy. These 18 metres high statues are made from slabs of quartile granite.
Other notable tourist sites in this tourist Mecca are the Luxor Temple, Hatshpsut Temple at Deir El-Bahri, Valley of the Queens, El-Mekahkesh Mosque, Luxor Museum and the Temple of Esna.
The Luxor Temple, the karnak Temple, the valley of Kings and the valley of Queens were listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1979.
For Luxurious Luxor- some of the significant Hotels are the Mara House in Salah El Deen Al Auby, Steigenberger Nile Palace, Pavillon Winter Luxor and the El Nakhil and Hotel Sheherazade both on Gezira el Bairat in the West Bank (a more residential area of the city). Eating in the city is a vegetarian’s delight; but for those who are seeking to indulge, in many of the restaurants there are wide array of menus to help them do just that. Nightlife in this city is alive and safe; the city boasts of posh Night Clubs-affording fun seekers the ideal atmosphere to unwind and play (so that they can be cool at night and nice in the day).
This pleasure heaven can be accessed by air, train and bus. The Luxor International Airport is a mere 6KM away from the city centre; it is capable of receiving international, domestic and local flights. Leisure and Business Travellers can fly in from European airports; and there are also daily flights from the Cairo International Airport. A standard flight costs $250 or thereabout and it takes 48miniutes on the average.
Although the city is in the province of Qena – in the mainland interior where destinations are few and far between, it is only next to the pyramids of Giza in popularity.
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Great article..keep it up. looking forward to the next issue.
The Luxor Temple, the karnak Temple, the valley of Kings and the valley of Queens were listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1979.