On our last Egypt post we checked out the Ali Mosque the military museum and the citadel at Cairo. My next stop was Luxor. There are many ways of getting to Luxor from Cairo. You could fly if your budget permits. There is also a bus in case your budget does not permit. In my experience it's very uncomfortable.
The best way to get to Luxor from Cairo is an overnight train. The chairs are kinda ok to sit but sleeping might be an issue. But you will make it through the night. The night train costs around INR 6000 / USD $80-$100 (1800 LE) for a sleeper, payable at the station. Incidentally the train fare to Aswan from Cairo is also the same. If you buy online there is a fee of 5%.
There is also a much cheaper day train which costs around INR 900 / USD $12. They also have a second class which costs around INR 400/ USD $7. There is a restriction of two tickets per account when you book online. Getting your hands on them in the station might be difficult. If the group is large It’s good idea to ask your local guide for help. Usually they have networks which source them.
I took the overnight train and next morning i checked into this quaint little place. It was like one of those quite places.
Like most big cities in Egypt, Luxor is a city located on the banks of river Nile. As per history, the west bank of river Nile was home to the dead and the east bank was home to the living. Off course in modern Egypt people live everywhere! The east bank of river Nile houses the temple of Luxor and Karnak.
Luxor Temple
Luxor Temple is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River in the city today known as Luxor (ancient Thebes) and was constructed approximately around 1400 BCE.
The entry fee comes to INR 600 / USD $9/EGP 140. The timings are 0600 Hours to 1800 hours. If you are visiting in the summer, It pays to go early in the morning for a good experience. It heats up during the day.
Temple complex from far
Temple complex from close
Unlike the other temples, Luxor temple is not dedicated to a cult god or a pharaoh. Instead, Luxor temple is dedicated to the rejuvenation, in fact it may have been where many of the pharaohs of Egypt were crowned.
It is said that Alexander the Great was crowned here! Everyone from Amenhotep III of the 18th Dynasty to Tutankhamun and finally Ramesses II. Everyone built something and, in a way left their imprint on this temple complex.
The sight of the larger than life structures makes one wonder at the times they must have been built in.
Below is a carving depicting the coronation of Ramesses the Great. Lucky for him I was there!
After a good two hours of information, exploration and admiration,I still wanted to spend more time in the complex. However, my guide Mehmood suggested a Nile river ride after our history tour. Since I was here just for couple of days, I decided to hit the next location.
Karnak Temple
The Karnak Temple Complex comprises of a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings in Egypt. Construction at the complex began during the reign of Senusret I. It is one of the most visited places in Egypt. The entry fee to the temple comes to INR 1000 / USD $12.5/EGP 200. The timings are 0600 Hours to 1800 hours. Once gain if you are visiting in summers It pays to go early in the morning.
As I kept looking at these huge structures the only thought that kept crossing my mind was how did they ever manage to build these things back then ? It truly is a sight that boggles the mind :)
It was a pleasant sight to see a sea of archaeology students working at the site to restore them for future generations.
Students from Poland who are in charge of renovation and maintenance of this site.
While I was doing the rounds of the temple my guide told me something interesting. How to interpret Egyptian statues.
From Luxor Temple
The statue above with its hands folded in Egyptian pharaohic culture signifies death or someone who is dead. A statue in movement with one leg ahead and in motion signifies the living. See Below
Karnak Temple
No one needs any explanation as to what this image means. It is supposed to symbolize fertility. The legend is if a lady touches that thing, she will be blessed with a child. Guess it looks like a lot of ladies have been touching it !
After spending a good five hours in these two places put together, I was famished. My good friend Mehmood told me he knew the perfect place. So, we got on a nice boat and off we went.
Nile River Ride.
The ride is a one of a kind experience. It costs less that USD $10 for the whole boat. The view of the river is breath taking. I went for a ride in the middle of the day and while the breeze was quite hot on land, On the river it was very cool and pleasant. I had the whole boat to myself. It’s the perfect activity for couples or larger groups to spend some time or picnic together on river Nile.
Our man Mehmood
The sides of the river had a variety of landscape. Absolutely bone dry to lush green. In fact, I was surprised at the amount of greenery in Egypt.I realized how the images of the pyramids gives an incorrect impression of a very dry place.
We finally stopped for our lunch in an orchid by the river side. The place has some interesting pets. Like this crocodile below. It also had a variety of plantations when to came to fruits.
Orange
The lunch was nice and wholesome. From fruits, berries to fruit juices followed by the actual meal! It was fulsome indeed! Note the red hibiscus drink. An Egyptian specialty.
In the orchid I ran into some Egyptian hibiscus. This is available in normal grocery shops in Egypt. Its health effects on the body is almost magical. Hibiscus tea has been known to prevent hypertension, lower blood pressure, reduce blood sugar levels, keep your liver healthy, help with menstrual cramps, help with depression, aid digestion and help with weight management. Its rich in Vitamin C, contains minerals such as flavoring and has laxative properties. You can have this as a hot tea or have it as an ice-cold drink. I purchased a kilogram of it to take home.
After the lunch we went back and we were back in Luxor. We were treated to a stunning sight of the Karnak light and sound show. While I did not go in, we both stood at a distance and admired the structure for a few mins before moving on. The light and sound show is very popular among visitors. It's best pick a package that comes with a guide. It starts out around INR 2000/ USD $25.
I hope you enjoyed reading about this place as much I enjoyed sharing it. If you wish to know anything about the place please do reach out via the comments. I will try my best to share.
