Most of the time, what comes into mind when talking about Egypt would be Cairo and the Pyramids. However, Luxor Egypt is also one of the best cities that should be visited. There are a lot of things to do and various historical places can be seen while visiting Luxor.
Where Exactly is Luxor Egypt?
Luxor is a beautiful modern city located on both the east and west banks of the Nile in northern Egypt. The city was built in the former area of Thebes, the famous ancient Egyptian capital. It covers an area of approximately 15 km² and a population of 93,000.
During the New Kingdom era, the city was the capital of Upper Egypt and the glorious city of Amun. The lands of the western desert previously were known as the “city of the dead” is a place where all the successors of the god Amun are buried with wealth that can be carried to eternal life. It was also known as “the city of the 100 gates”, as the city attracted a lot of people such as the Babylonians, the Hittites of Anatolia, the Canaanites of Ugarit, and the Minoans from Crete Island.
What are the Things to do in Luxor?
Since it was the capital of Upper Egypt during ancient times, the place has records of the art collections and archaeological records of ancient Egypt, some even traced back to 3000 BC. Basically, there are a lot of tourists can do in Luxor, and here are 10 lists of them.
1. Visit the Luxor Temple
This site is a must-visit temple in Luxor. It is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex constructed around 1400 BCE located on the east bank of the Nile River. The Luxor temple is dedicated to the kingship renewal, as it is debated that it could be the place where a lot of pharaohs were crowned.
It might not be as grand as Karnak; however, it has its own elegance and charm. With the amazing history and well-preserved area, visiting Luxor temple will be an irreplaceable experience.
2. Temple of Karnak
Do not miss the Karnak temple when visiting Luxor. This temple was constructed around 1971–1926 BCE during the reign of Senusret I, continued around 2000–1700 BCE in the Middle Kingdom, and then into the Ptolemaic Kingdom (305–30 BCE). About 30 pharaohs made contributions to the buildings, hence why the size, complexity, and diversity are unique.
Even when tourists are only allowed in one part of the temple, the massive size is still overwhelming and worth seeing.
3. Seeing the Valley of the Kings
During the period of 16th to 11th century BC, this place was excavated as rock tombs for the pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom. There are around 63 tombs and chambers in this valley, and up until now exploration, excavation, and conservation are still ongoing.
There are a lot of religious texts and images decorating the royal tombs, which is why tourists should come and visit this place. The colors on these carvings and paintings are still vibrant despite originating from ancient times.
4. Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III
During the 18th dynasty of the New Kingdom, this temple was constructed by architect Amenhotep, son of Hapu, for Pharaoh Amenhotep III. It was considered as the largest funerary complex in Thebes that was built during the time. There are two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III in front of the temple, known as the Colossi of Memnon.
Although it has been decaying because of floods and earthquakes, conservatory projects have been done in order to protect the site.
5. Experience the Temple of Hatshepsut
Located opposite the city of Luxor, this temple is a mortuary temple built during the reign of Pharaoh Hatshepsut. The temple is considered to be a masterpiece of ancient architecture, with the absolutely unique arrangement of its chambers and sanctuaries.
Even though the condition of the temple has reduced over time, it is still a place full of ancient history. It will be a magical experience to see the amazing architecture up close.
6. A Tour Around Luxor Museum
If tourists want to see a collection of artifacts and relics in Luxor, then take a trip to the Luxor Museum. It might not have a huge range of antiquities to display compared to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, however, the museum takes pride in the quality of its collections. It features items discovered under the Luxor Temple, and from the tomb of King Tut.
7. Tomb of Tutankhamun
It is the burial place of Tutankhamun, a pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, in the Valley of the Kings. There are four chambers and an entrance staircase and corridor in this tomb. It is not extensively decorated and relatively smaller than other Egyptian royal tombs of its time, but in this tomb, Tutankhamun’s mummy and some burial goods remained untouched. What remained from it was sent to the Egyptian Museum for perseverance. Exception for Tutankhamun’s mummy and sarcophagus—these are still on display in the tomb.
8. Karnak Open Air Museum
This is considered one of the largest open-air museums that exist. The location of this place is at the Karnak complex in the northwestern corner of the Precinct of Amon-Re. There are several shrines in this area, which have been rebuilt, such as the Chapelle Rouge of Hatshepsut, The White Chapel of Senusret I, and The Calcite Shrine of Amenhotep II.
9. Queen Nefertari’s Tomb
The Tomb of Nefertari, which is also called the Sistine Chapel of Ancient Egypt, was discovered in 1904 by Ernesto Schiaparelli. The walls of the tombs are full of paintings that are characterized by Nefertari’s character. These paintings are considered to be the most eloquent decorations compared to the other Egyptian burial sites.
10. A Tour With Hot Air Balloon
It wouldn’t be perfect if travelers haven’t seen Luxor through a bird’s eye view. The city has a lot of ancient historical places, and some of them are massive in size, so riding a hot air balloon to see its wonders from the sky is very recommended. Most of the rides can take around 45 – 80 minutes, and they can be arranged with the local guide.
So, there are absolutely tons of amazing things to do in Luxor Egypt. Contact http://exodustravel.net/ to make sure not to miss any of the Luxor magics.
Read more: Vacation Packages to Pyramids Luxor for Canadian Families