Luxor stands head and shoulders above the rest of Egypt’s towns in terms of ancient tourist sites and things to do for visitors. Luxor, originally known as Thebes, was considered the capital of the known world for centuries. As the capital, it developed its temple and monument architecture to unprecedented levels. Among these temples of Luxor, there are some great temples and monuments as follows.
Temples of Luxor You Should Visit
As previously mentioned, Luxor is the home of magnificent temples and historical sites. The top-rated temples in the city are listed below.
1. The Luxor Temple
Luxor Temple is one of the most well-known ancient Thebes structures, as well as one of the best-preserved temples. The Luxor Temple, a breathtakingly exquisite edifice in the center of contemporary Luxor, is a symbol of Ancient Egyptian culture.
The temple has a huge quantity of construction, statues, and relief carvings that are fully intact today, making it one of the most magnificent destinations to see in Luxor and Egypt. Unlike previous Luxor temples, the Luxor Temple was created in commitment to the regeneration of royalty rather than worship to a deity or a god figure of the kings and pharaohs.
2. The Karnak Temple
The temple was constructed between 2055 BC and 100 AD. It was built as a religious temple for the three gods: Mut, Amun, and Khonsu. The Karnak Temple was considered the “most select of places” by ancient Egyptians because it was the largest religious edifice ever built. The Karnak Temple Complex was the heart of ancient faith during the New Kingdom when authority was centered at Thebes (modern-day Luxor), and its prominence is reflected in its massive dimensions.
Karnak is separated into three compounds: Amun’s Precinct, Mut’s Precinct, and Montu’s Precinct. However, for most tourists, the greatest of these, the Amun precinct, is sufficient. Its intricate layout alone eclipses any other site you will see in Egypt.
3. Other Sites
While The Luxor and Karnak temples are located on the East Bank of Luxor, there are other sites situated on the West Bank. One of the Valley of the Kings. Hidden amid the steep escarpments of Luxor’s west bank, The Valley of the Kings was the ultimate resting place for the kings of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties.
The tombs, which are covered with elaborately detailed, bright wall murals, are usually every visitor’s first stop on a West Bank tour. Because it was thought that the dead traveled through the underworld at night on a boat, escorted by the sun god (or maybe having become one with the sun god), the walls of the tombs were covered with words and scenes illustrating this trip and instructing the dead on its path.
Another must-see temple is Deir el-Bahari, which consists of three temples: Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple, Nebhepetre Mentuhotep’s Mortuary Temple, and Thutmose III’s Mortuary Temple. However, the only temple visible today is Hatshepsut’s, as the other two have either been entirely demolished or are in the early stages of repair. While it lacks the rich detailing and architectural variation of its contemporaries, it is vital to remember that Hatshepsut was a woman pharaoh who governed as a male (dressing and acting like one).
Also, don’t miss The Colossi of Memnon, which houses two colossal (60-foot-tall) stone sculptures of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. The Colossi’s initial role was to keep vigil at the entrance to Amenhotep’s funerary temple (the biggest and most lavish temple in Egypt at the time).
Both quartzite sandstone statues are broken and highly deteriorated, indicating the statues’ antiquity. They were created about the 14th century BC and were subsequently partially rebuilt by the Roman Empire. Along with Amenhotep’s legs, two shorter figures are carved onto the front throne: his mother Mutemwiya, and wife Tiy.
How many days are enough for Luxor?
So, how many days do you need in Luxor to explore the highlights and soak up the city’s atmosphere? Are two days enough to see the best of its attractions, or will you need more? It depends on your itinerary. Most tour agents usually arrange a tour package that also includes other cities such as Cairo and Alexandria. Exodus Travel, for example, offers a five days trip exploring Luxor and Cairo with two days spent in Luxor alone.
On your first day in Luxor, you may see the vast and spectacular Karnak Temple, located on the East Bank of Luxor, which is the biggest temple complex ever built by humans. The Temple of Karnak consists of three major temples spread across 247 acres of land. After you’ve finished, head to Luxor Temple in the afternoon. It is the focal point of the most major festival, the Opet Festival. It was largely built by Rameses II and Amenhotep III.
A hot air balloon ride above Luxor would not be complete without a bird’s eye view of the city. It is the ideal way to cap off an exciting day before being transferred to your hotel in Luxor for relaxation. So, basically, one full day is sufficient to see the two temples as well as ride a hot air balloon.
Next, start your second day in Luxor by crossing the Nile to see the famed Necropolis of Thebes, also known as the West Bank of Thebes. You can travel from the Valley of the Kings to the Valley of the Artisan. Then, take a little lunch break. The second portion of the day will begin with a tour of the temple of Amenhotep III, the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt’s most renowned queens, the Al-Deir Al-Bahri complex, and the Colossi of Memnon.
What do you think about the itinerary above? A well-planned schedule is really important if you want to enjoy your trip to the fullest and a professional tour agent can help you set up everything for your vacation. You can visit exodustravel.net if you need the detail of the itinerary for a tour to the temples of Luxor or other Egypt tours packages
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