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As one moves from Cairo Airport into the city, it looks as though the political upheaval in this land had never happened. Some signs were there – an increased presence of police and even tanks, but to a tourist visiting for the first time, the thought of a rich past waiting to be explored overides the uncertainties.
Dining at the Nile Maxim cruising restaurant is a soothing experience, peppered with the national artform of belly dancing and the Tannoura (an Egyptian folk dance usually performed in Egyptian Sufi festivals in which men wear long colourful skirts and spin around, each colour on the skirt representing one Sufi order). Dancing has always been an integral part of Egyptian life and the country has been known as the home of belly dancing and no matter how many times this artform is watched, it always gives an insight into the traditions of this African country.
Water is life
Cruising on the Nile river is a must on any itinerary and there are several companies that have state-of-the-art ships that have stops in different places where tourists can disembark and explore ancient temples and monuments. It is a well known fact that the Nile, the longest river in the world, had a great impact on ancient Egypt and allowed the civilisation to thrive on its banks. From agriculture to trading and the construction of temples, the river has influenced the life of Egyptians in more ways than one.
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A stop at the Aswan High Dam offers scenic views of Lake Nassar, the huge reservoir (artificial lake) created when it was built. Located near Aswan, the High Dam was an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960s to control the annual floods on the Nile River. It contains 18 times the material used in the Great Pyramid of Cheops. The two mile long new dam provides irrigation and electricity for the whole of Egypt and has improved navigation along the river by keeping the water flow consistent. The old Aswan Dam was built by the British between 1898 and 1902. Sailing on a feluccca (a traditional wooden sailing boat) on the Nile is another exhilarating experience. Feluccas are still in active use as a means of transport by locals in Aswan and Luxor.
Temple tales
Though the Luxor and Karnak temples have been popular with most visitors to Egypt, there are other temples that have been discovered which can add to the rich archaeological treasures of this country. One of them is the Philae Temple on Lake Nasser. Philae in Greek meaning ‘the end,’ defined the southern most part of Egypt. The temple which was begun by Ptolemy II and completed by the Roman Emperors was nearly lost under water when the high Aswan dam was built. A joint operation between the Egyptian government and UNESCO relocated it on the higher ground of Agilka island. The whole project took ten years. Built of Syenite stone, the temple was dedicated to the goddess Isis, the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus, three characters which dominate ancient Egyptian culture and are highly reverred. A visit to the granite quarries nearby (there is a broken obelisk here) is also interesting.
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Another temple, the Kom Ombo Temple is also unique because it is dedicated to two gods, Sobek, the crocodile god (there were once huge numbers of crocodiles at Kom Ombo) and Horus, the falcon-headed god. It stands right on the bank of the Nile between Edfu and Aswan, a convenient stop for river cruises. The complex combines two temples with each one having its own gateways and chapels. The main attraction is the beautiful Outer Hypostyle Hall, with 15 thick columns topped with floral capitals and a cornice decorated with carved winged sun-discs. There is also a sacred well which was used as a Nilometer: priests would calculate taxes for the year by measuring the depth of the Nile.
Halfway between Aswan and Luxor is the Edfu temple. Dedicated to Horus, this temple is significant because it was built later than most and it is also the second largest in Egypt after Karnak Temple. The sand has helped to preserve the building so it was almost completely intact when it was first excavated by Auguste Mariette in the 1860s. It is believed that after Osiris’ murder by his brother Seth, Horus avenged his father’s death in a great battle at Edfu. Seth was exiled and Horus took the throne. Don’t miss the birth house in this temple complex.
| A new connection |
| EgyptAir, national carrier of Egypt, is planning to expand its network in India with the launch of a new route between New Delhi and Cairo, from June 2014. Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, Magdi Selim, undersecretary head, domestic tourism sector, Egyptian Tourist Authority, said, “We are launching a new connection between New Delhi and Cairo. This service will start very soon in the next three to four months. This new initiative has been taken to increase the tourism footfall to Egypt.” |
The Valley of the Kings in the west bank at Luxor (ancient Thebes) is undoubtedly one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. The area is a honeycomb of tombs of Egyptian pharaohs and their families. Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple located beneath the cliffs at Deir el Bahari on the west bank is dedicated to the sun god Amon-Ra. Its unique architectural style has three layered terraces reaching 97 feet and each storey is supported by a double colonnade of square piers.
Visitors must also visit the Papyrus Institute in Cairo to discover the unique technology of papyrus making, a closely guarded secret of ancient Egyptians. Cyperus papyrus is a long stemmed plant that grows in damp regions of the Nile Delta.
