With its elaborate tombs, elegant pillars and colossal monuments, Egypt has captured the attention of travelers across the globe. Its rich history dates back to the dawn of civilization and its architectural beauty is as timeless as the mighty Nile. The walls of its relics tell the story of the great Egyptian dynasty which lasted for over 3000 years.
Nothing compares to the personal experience of visiting Egypt and learning about linguistic and mathematical innovations, spirituality and religion.
Pyramids of Giza
Covered in gleaming limestone slabs and topped by gold capstones, the great pyramids are arguably the most famous landmark of ancient Egypt and the last remaining of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The ancient engineering of the pyramids is very impressive that they continue to mystify and captivate archeologists and have elicited many theories including suggestions that they had an extra-terrestrial origin. The three pyramids were constructed throughout three generations. These structures are home to the mummies of dead pharaohs which are believed to accompany them on their journey to the afterlife. The decorated tombs contain inscriptions that depict the regular course of life during those days.
There are several pyramids and mastabas (relatively smaller pyramids) built for queens and prominent court members. Besides the major structure, the Great Sphinx is facing east towards the rising sun, symbolizing the sun god. It is one of the largest known sculptures and features a lion’s body with a human head adorned by a headdress.
Museums of Cairo
The capital city of Egypt harbors thousands of minarets and skyscrapers. Its grand museums hold a passage to the vast history of the Egyptian dynasty. Among the most prominent museums are the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities and The royal mummies hall which trace 5000 years of Egyptian art. The Egyptian museum contains countless artifacts and antiquities. Cairo is also a vibrant modern cosmopolitan, often named as ‘Paris on the Nile’. A felucca ride along the Nile river is a great way to escape from the heat. Cairo is also famous for its majestic mosques.
Besides being a portal to the medieval past, the city offers all the recreations of a bustling metropolis: luxurious hostels and restaurants, shopping complexes and bars. The Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar is a shopper’s paradise with its exotic food and jewelry and clothing. The city comes alive at nightfall which its jazz clubs and Sufi dancing.
Luxor Temples
Luxor or the ancient city of Thebes boasts of its sheer wealth of sacred temples and giant tomb structures whose orientation and mind-boggling construction has been a topic of speculation. Luxor is indeed an open-air museum. The Luxor temple is an ode to the Egyptian deities with its red sandstone adding more to its elegance and grandeur. The mud houses and palaces of Thebes have vanished but its temples stand proudly. An avenue of sphinxes connects it with the Karnak temple complex, a site containing the countless Egyptian structures, chapels, temples, and pylons. Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple, Medinet Habu, Ramesseum and Mortuary Temple of Seti are other world-renowned temples.
The tombs of the great pharaohs of the last dynasties, etched with copper and bronze chisels are snugly hidden in the Valley of Kings. Its walls vividly depict the voyage to the afterlife. The pillared hall of reed columns once had silver floors and painted ceiling. Although the paint is long gone, an echo of its former splendor remains. The valley of queens offers the same sight. The rulers of the Ptolemaic era rest in the Tomb of Nobles which also contains well-preserved paintings representing the regular life of the Egyptians.
Saqqara
Saqqara is a vast necropolis in the ancient capital city of Memphis. It marks a transition in Egyptian architecture from reeds and wood to stone. It features the world-famous step pyramid of Djoser, a prototype of the Great Pyramids of Giza. The mastabas of Saqqara were the humble abode of the early pharaohs before mummification which dates back to the beginning of the Egyptian civilization. It’s the most extensive archeological site. Beneath the field of mastabas, another passage of winding underground tunnels leads to the home of a thousand mummies of the pharaohs of the early dynasties. To reach this burial ground, amid the scorching desert one can take a camel ride.
Alexandria
Alexandria was where the stormy love story of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Marc Antony took place as well as a cosmopolitan hub for intellectuals in the early twentieth century. The great Library of Alexandria, which was later reduced to ruins by Julius Caesar was the greatest library in the world. Today, Alexandria is a thriving metropolis with a thriving port along its coastline. The major tourist attraction is the library of bibliotheca, built to honor the great library of Alexandria and the Citadel of Qaitbay, a grand 15th-century fort on the edge of the Mediterranean sea. The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa is another wonder of the ancient world’s which is worth a visit.
Mount Sinai
Located in the Sinai peninsula, mount Sinai is a greatly venerated holy site in Abrahamic religions where God is purported to have visited Moses and given him the ten commandments. It is also believed that the entire biblical text and its interpretation were delivered to him here. It contains a library of ancient biblical manuscripts. To the north of the mountains is the 6th century St. Catherine’s Monastery. The chapel and mosque at the summit are two popular pilgrimage sites. It is also a holy site for Muslims since Prophet Mohammad is believed to have started his journey to heaven on a winged horse from here. The mountain offers a spectacular view of Sunrises and sunsets. One can also take a hot balloon ride and savor the sight. The neighboring Mt Catherine is the highest mountain in Egypt. There are numerous relics and artifacts in the chapel of St. Catherine. Many craftworks are put on display on the way.