Egypt is not just about its rich culture but also about the destinations this country bears for they have caught the eyes of the world’s tourists since the year 2017. Landmarks are a mainstream tourist attraction but touring them while on a cruise is what makes a traveler feel really exotic so if you wish to visit Egypt anytime sooner, book your Nile cruise to travel between the cities and enhance the first-hand experience.
As the country is deeply soaked in the glorious assets of its folk stories and heritage which makes it one of its own kind. People love to travel in and out of the country to feel the strange pleasure that the air of Egypt offers them. So if you are a lover of watching the glorious historical places before your eyes, you must take the chance.
1. Abu Simbel Temple
Abu Simbel is an archaeological site in the south of Egypt where there are two statues sitting side by side to each other. These statues were originally carved into a huge rock and are positioned at the Nile River’s second cataract. These two temples that form the location were built all through the rule of Ramesses II. As per history, it is believed that the structures were constructed to commemorate Ramesses ‘ triumph over the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BCE, the inside of the temple is focusing mainly on the comprehensive works of art all through it. The structures are formed at the rock and were built not only for worship but also as a permanent shrine to Ramesses the Powerful and his late wife, Queen Nefertari.
2. Aswan Dam
After the Simbel temple, your cruise will stop at the Aswan dam which was engineered and sponsored by the Soviet Union. Nile Cruises Luxor Aswan tours will wait for you to absorb the magnificent view from the top of the dam, something you instantly realize as marvelous because of its spectacular construction. This Aswan High Dam is important for the world as well because it supplies water for approximately 33,600km2 of the agricultural field with a storage capacity of 132km3. This meets both Egypt and Sudan’s agricultural interests, regulates floods, produces electricity and enhances navigation throughout the Nile cruise and so the central government of Egypt is strongly defending its second-most valuable asset, the main source of drinking water in the world. Designed as a replacement to the Older Dam, Nasser directed the creation of the Aswan High Dam in 1960.
3. Incomplete Obelisk
This one is again a masterpiece with an interesting story which goes like the Hatsheput (Pharoah of 18th century Egypt) instructed the building of a giant obelisk (the largest ever built), but the stone fractured during it was being sculpted, leaving the obelisk incomplete and infinite and a trip offers a chance of seeing an old granite quarry that served almost all the statues in the temples of Egypt. Aswan’s Northern Quarries contain the fragments of the Unfinished Obelisk. The quarry itself has been abandoned after this last obelisk, having survived its worth. You may question why this location has become such an icon for tourists but the real lesson here is that how the ancients of Egypt with no metal instruments succeeded to construct such huge monoliths.
4. Temple Philae
Next can be Temple Philae which is built on the southernmost edge of Egypt and is identified as Philae in Greek, or Pilak in ancient Egyptian which means ‘ the end.’ because it is present just at the southern side of Aswan, on Lake Nasser’s northern corner. This Temple is dedicated to Isis and had been in use by Isis-worshipers until around the 6th century AD when Emperor Constantine banned the custom. It was started by Ptolemy II and ended by the Roman Monarchs. However, viewing the Lighting and sound display, that takes you through all the temples, is worth a visit in dark. You will need to take a ship cruise to reach the temple; your guide will bargain your rate but in case you are going solo then you will have to navigate your own way through the boat port mess.
5. Karnak Temple
Karnak is named after a village present on the eastern side of the Nile River in upper Egypt. Karnak is an impressive collection of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons, and obelisks devoted to the Theban triad but also to the king’s honor and glory. This sanctuary on the shores of the Nile is by far the vastest old religious place in all Egypt and deserving a remarkable trip quite definitely. Karnak honors Amun-Ra (the main god of Egypt, a fusion of the Old Kingdom god Amun and the Sun god Ra) with parts devoted to 3 distinct (and equally as important) old gods. The location occupies larger than 2 square km; it is wide enough to have about 10 chapels inside it. Throughout the Royal house, Karnak has been the most prominent house of worship in Egypt, established, linked to, destroyed, rebuilt, expanded and celebrated for almost 1500 years.
6. Luxor Temple
Slightly smaller and more open than Karnak, Luxor Temple is located right at the center of the city, close to the Winter Palace hotel. It is dedicated to the three main deities of Theban, Amun-Ra (sun), Mut (consort of Amun and goddess of mother), and Khonsu (moon). Luxor’s most popular temple is at peak when the sun sets because it is open for pubic later than Karnak, which has a Sound & Lightshow and is always closed by midnight. Started building during 1390 and 323 BC, it’s neither as large nor as complex as Karnak but follows the same kind of design of architecture. So it is a lot more relevant. Sphinxes Road, which once linked it to Karnak, is still being discovered and renovated.
Touring these sites while on the Nile cruise will elevate your journey and make you realize that all the efforts were worth it.
