Things to do in Esna To Abu Simbel
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Aswan High Dam
Egypt's modern example of construction on a monumental scale, the controversial Aswan High Dam contains 18 times the amount of material used in the Great Pyramid of Khufu and created Lake Nasser, the world's largest artificial lake.
From the 1940s, it was clear that the old Aswan Dam, which only regulated the flow of water, was not big enough to counter the unpredictable annual flooding of the Nile. In 1952, when Gamal Abdel Nasser came to power, plans were drawn up for a new dam, 6km south of the old one, but from the start there were political and engineering difficulties. In 1956, after the World Bank refused the promised loan for the project, Nasser ordered the nation…
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Temple of Kom Ombo
Standing on a promontory at a bend in the Nile, where in ancient times sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank, is the Temple of Kom Ombo. Unique in Egypt, it has a dual dedication to the local crocodile god Sobek and Haroeris, from har-wer, meaning Horus the Elder. This is reflected in the temple’s plan: perfectly symmetrical along the main axis of the temple, there are twin entrances, two shared hypostyle halls with carvings of the two gods on either side, and twin sanctuaries. It is assumed that there were also two priesthoods. The left (western) side of the temple was dedicated to Haroeris, the right (eastern) half to Sobek.
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Camel Market
Most of the camels are brought up in caravans from Sudan to just north of Abu Simbel, from where they're trucked to Daraw. The rest walk to the market in smaller groups, entering Egypt at Wadi al-Alagi and making their way through the Eastern Desert. Camels are sold here each day of the week, but the main caravan of camels from Abu Simbel, sometimes as many as 2000 of them, is brought to market on Sunday.
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Hosh al-Kenzi
Definitely worth seeing is the Nubian museum called Hosh al-Kenzi. Built in 1912 by the father of the current resident, Haj Mohammed Eid Mohammed Hassanein, the house is constructed in traditional Nubian style and decorated with Nubian artefacts mostly made from palm trees.
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Temple of Isis
The romantic aura and the grandeur of the Temple of Isis on the island of Philae (fee- leh ) lured pilgrims for thousands of years, and during the 19th century the ruins became one of Egypt’s most legendary tourist attractions.
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Sound and Light Show
Each evening a sound and light show is shown at Philae. The commentary is cheesy, but wandering through the temple at night is quite delightful. Double-check the schedule at the tourist office.
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Al-Noba Restaurant
A little way south of the service-taxi station, Al-Noba is the only sit-down eatery in this part of town and the only items on the menu are soup followed by a quarter chicken served with rice and vegetables.
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Kiosk of Trajan
South of the Temple of Hathor is the elegant, unfinished pavilion by the water's edge, known as the Kiosk of Trajan, perhaps the most famous of Philae's monuments and frequently painted by Victorian artists.
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Temple of Hathor
East of the second pylon is the delightful Temple of Hathor decorated with reliefs of musicians (including an ape playing the lute) and Bes, the god of childbirth.
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Temple of Augustus
On the northern tip of the island are the Temple of Augustus and the Gate of Diocletian.
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Gate of Diocletian
On the northern tip of the island are the Temple of Augustus and the Gate of Diocletian.
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