Egypts Top Landmarks
Found at Luxor, on the West Bank of the River Nile, the Valley of the Kings is home to many historical places. There are over 60 tombs with over 120 chambers in the Valley of the Kings. This is where the pharaohs were buried and was believed by them to be the place they hoped to meet their gods in the afterlife. You will also find the area that the tomb of Tutankhamen was discovered. Unfortunately the majority of the tombs are not open to the public. SInce the 18th Century, this places has been a popular archaeological exploration spot. It is truly unique. It is one of the most famous archaeological sites on the planet, and in 1979 became a World Heritage Site.
Luxor Temple
The Temple at Luxor is right in the centre of Luxor, so if you do head to Luxor you shouldn’t miss it. The temple was built around 1400BC mainly to celebrate the annual festival of Opet. You cannot fail to be awestruck when you realise that this place has existed for well over 3000 years. An evening visit affords the opportunity to see the complex spectacularly lit up. The temple is well worth a visit.
The Temple of Karnak
This vast complex of ruined temples, pylons and chapels is located near Luxor. It is considered one of the most important places of worship in Ancient Egypt. Ancient hieroglyphics cover everything here, and the result is spectacular. You can also find historical performances and sound and light shows here explaining much more about the history of Karnak’s Temples.
The Egyptian Museum
Located in Cairo, the Egyptian Museum is home to over 120,000 items of treasured found around Egypt. It is important to arrive at the museum early, as it is probably one of Egypt’s busiest attractions. As well as many treasures that were discovered within the tombs, you will also find over 20 real mummies in the Royal Mummy Room. However the star attraction here is the tomb of Tutankhamen and all the treasures that were buried along with it. You will normally see a good crowd around the solid gold mask that rested upon the Kings head. This mask weighs 24.5pounds of solid gold and the face on the front is believed to look very much like the Kings face.
The Great Sphynx of Giza
The Great Sphynx is the largest statue created from one piece of stone. Believed to date back to 3000BC, it has the body of a lion and the head of a human, built by the Ancient Egyptians. Until the 1920s when it was fully uncovered, the Sphynx was buried up to its head in sand.
The Pyramids of Giza
If you are at the Sphynx then there is not a chance that you will be missing the Pyramids. There are three main pyramids in Giza, one which is the Great Pyramid. The originally smooth and polished limestone has been turned into step like structures by years of weather erosion. The only remaining limestone is at the top of the smallest pyramid, but even this has lost its polished texture due to years of erosion. The Great Pyramid is the last remaining wonder of the ancient world.
A trip to Egypt is one you’ll never forget. If you are taking advantage of the cheap Sharm holidays that you find, then you cannot afford to miss any of these amazing attractions that this awe inspiring country has to offer.