Luxor History
Luxor has so many historical sites and monuments that it is sometimes called “the world’s best open-air museum.” This is because the pharaohs of ancient Egypt worked very hard to ensure their rule would last forever. On both sides of the Nile, you can find the ruins of old temples and other places where people were buried.
On top of these old foundations, a new city was built. This makes an interesting contrast between old and new that you can only find in Luxor.
A great example of this is the area around the Karnak Temple Complex and the Luxor Temple. Their new building is very different from their old one, which was made of stone.
In the area around Luxor and on the other side of the Nile, you can find a lot more temples and tombs.
To thoroughly check out all of the archaeological sites in the area would take quite a few days. You can learn much about ancient Egypt and its people at each location.
The easiest way to group the places around Luxor is by whether they are on the eastern or western side of the Nile. When the sun rose on the East Bank, it brought life and prosperity to the people there. However, the sunset on the West Bank meant that the people who had died there were moving on to the next life.
For them, the West Bank was where the sunset was and where souls went to the next world.
On the East Bank of the Nile, you can find the city of Luxor, what’s left of the ancient city of Thebes, and the temple complexes that the old religion used every day.
A lot of tombs and temples that are about the afterlife are in the West Bank. Ancient Egyptians and their pharaohs were laid to rest in these tombs, which was the start of their journey to the afterlife.
Explore the oldest structures and treasures in Luxor by booking Luxor Day Tours
Luxor Location
Located in the southeast of the country, approximately 670 km from Cairo, the city of Luxor is part of the territory that since ancient times has been called Upper Egypt. Located on the banks of the Nile, it was the capital of Egypt during the last period of the Middle Kingdom and much of the New Kingdom, when it was known as Thebes, more than 4,000 years ago. Due to its location, the climate is hot and dry, and the temperature usually exceeds 40º in summer. Like other cities in Egypt, the economy is based on tourism and agriculture.
How to get to Luxor?
Luxor can be reached through its international airport; the number of internal flights that go to the city is quite large; you can get it from Cairo, Aswan, Hurghada, or Alexandria. In addition, the International Airport is considered one of the most important in Egypt and operates with many of the main cities in Europe. Another option for travel is the sleeper train from Cairo.
What to see in Luxor?
The main tourist attractions in Luxor are Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, and Luxor Museum, located on the east bank. At the same time, the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, and the Colossi of Memnon are situated on the shore.
West of the river, in addition to other smaller temples and monuments, they give the visitor an idea of the splendor of Thebe’s imperial capital.
Luxor, considered the largest open-air museum, also gives you leisure options for the afternoon or evening, such as taking a ride on the Nile in a felucca. You can have fun with local flavor at the end to see the sunset, and folk music is different.
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Things to do in Luxor
Luxor is so big and full of things to do and see that it will take weeks to see and do everything there is to see and do. Then, what are some good alternatives? Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your time in Luxor and visit its most famous sites.
- Buying souvenirs is always essential on our trip; in Luxor, you will find many places to purchase different items at various prices.
- A ride in a hot air balloon at sunrise over Luxor is one of the most memorable things to do there. Find out why so many people think Luxor is the best outdoor museum in the world. Also, it’s a great way to get to know Luxor’s many tourist spots. From above, you can see how big the buildings are and how carefully they were planned before they were built. The morning light makes this meeting even more beautiful than it already was. As the sun rises in the east, it casts a beautiful light on the temples.
- The Sound and Light Show at the Karnak Temple is like nothing else. When the sun went down, a movie was shown inside the Temple, and it told about the building’s history and how people lived in ancient Egypt. With the help of special effects, it looks like the Temple has been brought back to life.
- Before leaving the city, you must go to Dendera and Abydos for the day. These ancient Egyptian temples have been kept in excellent condition and are among the best. Parts of the walls of these grand temples once painted are still bright with color. Abydos was where the ancient god of the underworld died and was laid to rest. King Seti I started building the Temple, and King Ramses II finished it. The Egyptian goddess of love and pleasure has a temple at Dendera named after her.
On one of the best Nile River Cruises, you can see the historical sites of Luxor. Check out our Egypt Nile River Cruises
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