Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit Bali is from April to September as during this season the climate is good enough for travel, being sunny with moderate humidity.

Location on Google Maps:

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How to get there:
Bali is listed as “Denpasar” in airlines, which is the capital of the island. It takes few minutes (say 15mins) from Ngurah Rai Airport. Domestic flights in Indonesia are readily available. If taken sea route Cruises at stop offs work out from Java and Lombok and by car and bus from Java. For around, Air Bali helps getting helicopters on rent for joyrides and charters.

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
1. You can find best deals and hotels in this website
2. www.Balivillas.com : Gives info on villas in Bali and conveyance around. For helicopter tours and private charters (3 to 6 passengers) please contact the Balivillas.com Service Center at 703-060 as soon as you arrive. Most full day tours by car (about 8 to 10 hours, min 2 persons) cost about US$45 to US$50 per person, half day tours US$30 to US$35. These prices include a multi-lingual guide and transport in an air-conditioned private car, all entrance fees, but no meals.
3. http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/asia/indonesia/bali/restaurants.htm : website for the best of the restaurants at Bali.

Blogs / Sites about Easter Island (with small excerpts from these blogs):

1. Bali on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali )
Bali is an island in Indonesia lying between Java and Lombok. It has 33 provinces with Denpasa at its capital. It adheres to Balinese Hinduism, but remaining follows mostly Islam. It is famous for its arts and music and temples.

2. History of Bali: http://www.asianartmall.com/balihistory.htm
People in Bali emigrated from China in 2500BC. This culture had a different and effective form of irrigation and agriculture of rice. Though emigrated from china, there were many Hindu artifacts found and hence there was a tie in it of the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism.

3. Maps and A description along with photos www.bali.com

Photo / Image Gallery:
1. Google Images
2. Shows you albums of exotic locations in Bali and culture of Bali.
3. More photos of Bali

Location of Saladin’s Citadel on Google Maps:

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Saladin built the Citadel beneath the Muqattam Hills, and got his wish about making a place that was difficult to attack, although the wall was never built during his reign. Saladin rules Egypt from the Citadel, and from that time onwards till the 1860′s, the Citadel remained the seat of the Egyptian center of power. However, the importance of the Citadel as a place of power declined during the rule of the Ottoman Empire, since for them, Turkey was the center and Egypt was a province. Over a period of time, the structure that Saladin had built was expanded, with the rulers after him adding water well enhancements, mosques, other offices, and more buildings, including defense walls. Right now, the Citadel, contains 3 mosques, a Palace (Al-Gawhara Palace), and 2 museums (National Military Museum and the Police Museum).

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – view of the walls and the domes of the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Closer view of the domes

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Landscaping done to get the name of Allah on the plant

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – view of defensive tower in the structure

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Grand arched Entrance to the Nasir mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Grand corridors, pillars, and lamps in the Nasir mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – enclosure with carvings in the Nasir mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Hypostyle corridor in the Nasir mosque with wonderful pillars

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Tourists in the passageway inside the complex with an incline

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – View from the outside of the Police Museum inside the complex

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – View of the narrow passageway, as seen from the height of the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – view of the metal lattice of a window along with a lamp

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Map of the inside of the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – the center point of the open courtyard of the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – a corridor inside the courtyard of the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – the well inside the courtyard of the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – the wonderful view inside the Mohammed Ali Mosque with 365 lamps

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – the 365 lamps hanging from the ceiling in the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – the altar inside the Mohammed Ali Mosque used for prayer

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – the open space behind the Mohammed Ali Mosque, also a mini shopping area

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – view of many parts of Cairo from the Mohammed Ali Mosque

When we reached the place, the vehicle stayed in the parking, and it is around a 15 minute walk from there to the top of the structure, where you can get a grand view of Cairo, after passing through a narrow passage (with the Wash Rooms being located in this passage – be prepared to shell out 1 Egyptian pound per tourist using the Wash Room to the attendant), and then you cross the mosques one by one, cross the museums (climbing a bit as you move), until you reach the Mohammed Ali Mosque and then the view.
You should allocate around 3-4 hours for this, admire the mosques (they are indeed beautiful), admire the view, and admire the overall structure (including a huge clock that was given as a gift by a European king, but which never worked); and then there is a well.
From here, we moved back to our vehicle, and then to the Khan el Khalili in the middle of town. The market is located in the middle of the city, and is located next to the Al Azhar University (the most famous place of Islamic learning in Egypt and in the Arab world). The market dates back to the 14th century, and has seen a huge part of the history of Cairo. Twice in the recent past decade, there have been terrorist attacks that have killed tourists (one killed a total of 21 people, and the last one happened only last year), so there is a large police presence clearly. Further, vehicles are not allowed to be parked there, but pick and drop from just next to the market is allowed. In front of the market, there are many eating places. Inside the market, expect to do an incredible amount of bargaining (but quality can be a concern in many cases), and expect to find narrow alleyways. It seems a bit strange, but is supposed to be very safe for tourists now. We spent around 2-3 hours in the two parallel paths inside the market, and did a bit of spending.

Khan el Khalili market in cairo – View of the front part

Khan el Khalili market in Cairo – starting to move inside

Khan el Khalili market in Cairo – shopping stuff hanging from both sides

Location of Amer Fort on Google Maps:

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If you are visiting the fort for the first time, it is recommended that you take a local guide; else, since not many of the buildings are marked, you will be at a loss to figure out what some of the older structures inside the Fort are. And there are a number of different palaces, halls, gardens, and other locations inside the Fort complex. Make sure that you do visit the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) inside the Fort.
The Fort is divided into 4 sections, with access to each of the sections from a central location through a staircase, or through a wide enough pathway. When you enter the Fort through the main gate, the first place you reach is the Jaleb Chowk, the main courtyard. Here, in the past, when a returning army would return to the city, they would be paraded in this Chowk. There is also a famous temple inside the Palace called the Kali Temple (with enormous silver lions). The fort is constructed of white and red sandstone.

View of elephant and mahout near the Amber Fort in Jaipur

Boundary wall on the hilltops near the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Ramparts of the Amber Fort in Jaipur

Musicians on the walls of the Amer Fort near the entrance

At one of the many gateways inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

View of the Diwan-i-Aam – the public audience hall inside the Amer Fort

An ambulance inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

View of the huge courtyard inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

People inside the Amber Fort – with some wonderfully carved buildings

View of a wonderfully carved doorway inside the Amber Fort in jaipur

View of canons outside a doorway inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

The board for Diwan-i-Aam inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

The hall between the pillars inside the Diwan-i-Aam the Amer Fort in Jaipur

The carved pillars inside the Amber Fort in the Jaipur

Cross section of pillars inside a hall in the Amber Fort in Jaipur

Carvings in the shape of a flower on the wall of the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Darkened view of a room with a view of the window inside the Amber Fort

View of a slightly older section of the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Overhead view of the garden inside the Amer Fort in Jaipur

A windows lattice work inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

The outer edge of the walls in the Amber Fort in Jaipur

View of an entire housing community (town) viewed from the Amer Fort

View of one of the Halls inside the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Doorways in the wall inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

Tourists inside one of the halls (between the pillars) in the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Security personnel inside the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Pigeons on the walls and windows inside the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Trees inside the courtyard in the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Location of Edfu temple

Edfu is located 60Km to the north of Aswan. The town of Edfu is located on the west back of the Nile River, some sixty miles south of Luxor, with Aswan further south. Edfu is located about halfway between Luxor (115km away) and Aswan (105km) and 65km north of Kom Ombo. It was the 2nd Nome of Upper Egypt and the centre of the cult of a triad of Gods, which consisted of Horus of Behdet, Hathor, and their son, Hor-Sama-Tawy.

How to get there

The temple is often included on Nile cruise itineraries but can also be reached from Aswan or Luxor, by train or road. The railway station is on the east bank and coaches often only stop on this side too. A taxi from Luxor takes around two hours and one and a half hours from Aswan. As of 2009 visitors no longer need to travel as part of the police convoy.

Location of Edfu temple on Google Maps:

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History of Edfu temple

- Dedicated to Horus, the falcon headed god. It was built during the reigns of six Ptolemies.
- In 332 BC, Alexander the Great conquered Egypt. After his death in 323, his successors ruled Egypt under the Ptolemaic Dynasty.
- The Temple of Horus at Edfu was built during the Ptolemiac era on top of an earlier temple to Horus.
- This is not only the best preserved ancient temple in Egypt, but the second largest after Karnak.
- The modern Arabic name of Edfu is derived from the ancient Egyptian name Djeba, or Etbo in Coptic. Djeba meant “Retribution Town”, since the enemies of the god were brought to justice therein.
- The Temple of Edfu is nearly intact and a very good example of an ancient Egyptian temple.
- The Temple of Edfu’s archaeological significance and high state of preservation has made it a center for tourism in Egypt.
- The falcon-headed Horus was originally the sky god, whose eyes were the sun and moon.
- He was later assimilated into the popular myth of Isis and Osiris as the divine couple’s child. Raised by Isis and Hathor after Osiris’ murder by his brother Seth, Horus avenged his father’s death in a great battle at Edfu. Seth was exiled and Horus took the throne, Osiris reigning through him from the underworld. Thus all pharoahs claimed to be the incarnation of Horus, the “living king.”
- The town of Edfu is today an important centre for sugar production and pottery-making.

Attractions at Edfu Temple

Pylon : The front shows illustrations of Horus and Hathor, and captives offered in sacrifice to the gods. The four niches held
flagstaffs when the temple was in use. This is the Great Pylon.

Edfu temple in Egypt – the first pylon along with tourists

The Temple of Edfu was actually not the first one here. It was built on top of a temple built for Thutmosis III by the famous architect Imhotep, who later was proclaimed a god himself because of his great works. You find him pictured in that role at the temple of Kom Ombo.
GOD Horus : Guarding the entrance of the temple are two statues of the god Horus. His importance was such that he was equalled with the king. The pharaoh was seen as a human manifestation of the god Horus.

Edfu Temple in Egypt – the statue of Horus

Birth House : The first structure we come to, at the south-west corner before the great temple pylon, is a rectangular colonnaded building peculiar to Graeco-Roman temples, known as a mammisi or birth-house, built to celebrate the divine birth of Horus. The Roman mammisi at Dendera was modelled on this structure.
Court of Offerings : Beyond the Pylon is the spacious Court of Offerings, where people could enter to make offerings to the image of Horus. The court is surrounded by columns on three sides and is decorated with festival reliefs. depict the Festival of the Beautiful Meeting, during which Hathor’s image sailed from Dendera to spend some intimate time with Horus in the sanctuary of the Temple of Edfu before sailing back.

Hypostyle Hall : The rectangular Hypostyle Hall was built under Ptolemy VII (145-116 BC) and has two rows of six pillars supporting an intact roof. The ceiling has astronomical paintings symbolizing the sky. This is the outer hypostyle hall or pronaos, with 18 tall carved columns to support a ceiling decorated with astronomical figures representing the sky. The usual offering scenes decorate the walls but there are also well-preserved reliefs from the temple foundation ceremony.

Edfu temple in Egypt – the grand Hypostyle Hall with astronomical paintings on the ceiling

Festival Hall : It marks the beginning of the oldest part of the temple, built 237-212 BC under Ptolemy III and IV. During festivals, this hall was decorated with faience, flowers and herbs and scented with incense and myrrh.

Hall of offerings : A small doorway, decorated with splendid reliefs of the sacred barques of Horus and Hathor, leads from the Festival Hall into the Hall of Offerings. During the New Year Festival, the image of Horus was carried up the ascending stairway on the left to be revitalized by the sun, then carried back down the descending stairway.

Sanctuary Of Horus : The Sanctuary of Horus, with ritual barque (barge) granite shrine in back is the holiest part of the temple. The sanctuary centers on a black-granite shrine that was dedicated by Nectanebo II, making it the oldest relic in the temple. This once contained the gilded wooden cult image of Horus. Next to the shrine is an offering table and the ceremonial barque (barge) on which Horus was carried during festivals.

Edfu temple in Egypt – Sanctuary Of Horus, the holiest part of the temple

Nilometer : One of the most remarkable elements of the Temple is the existence of a Nilometer, as well as a chapel, which was dedicated to the Goddess Nut.

Edfu temple in Egypt – Nilometer, for measuring the height of the Nile

Edfu temple in Egypt – taking a horse carriage from the cruise to the temple

Edfu temple in Egypt – view of the temple from a distance

Edfu temple in Egypt – tourist taking a photo of some of the pillars

Edfu temple in Egypt – the huge carving in the first pylon

Edfu temple in Egypt – the large carving in the first pylon

Description:
Stonehenge is a site about which there is still some lack of clarity as to the actual purposes, but there is talk of association with druids, as well as a relation with the worship of older deities; and there were alternative reasons as well, such as it being an astronomical observatory. Given the supposed existence of burial sites in the area, there is the concept that maybe Stonehenge was actually a burial site for people from the higher strata in society of that time.

Construction:
Stonehenge shows the large stones still placed, but there has been damage in the past. Some of the stones in the past were used for other construction such as for roads or for homes (and even from visitor contact in the present, as a result of which visitors were prohibited from contact with the stones in 1978). When the structure was built, it would have been a massive engineering effort, with a huge amount of manual labor having been needed to make it happen. It was constructed in 3 phases, with the first phase (approx 5000 years ago) being a bank and ditch arrangement (called as a henge) (and digging of the ditch would not have been an easy task, using wood and animal antlers). Even removal of the dirt taken out during digging would not have been an easy task.
The second phase (around 4000 years back) was the construction of the first stone circle (which can now be seen as the inner circle) ; these stones where the bluestones were carted in from the mountains 240 miles away (with no clear answer as to how these 4 ton stones were dragged from the mountains to the site through land and over water).
The third and final phase (as visible now) was the construction of the outer ring, using the much larger sarsen stones (weighing 50 tons each). These stones were got from a place that was only 20 miles away, but would have still required a huge amount of effort to get them from the mountains, since there was a high obstacle at one part of the journey. There was a hole made in the ground, the stone was slowly leveraged over the hole and then lowered over the hole with stones filling the bottom of the hole.
‘The Heel Stone’ this special stone lies just outside the main entrance. It is a rough stone, and is also known as “Friar’s heal” or “Sun stone”. When one stands within the Stonehenge, facing north east through the entrance towards the heel stone, one sees the sunrise above the stone at summer solstice. A simple explanation for the name HEEL might be that stone heels or, leans.

Myths:
Since there is no clarity as to the actual purpose of the stones, there are many stories dealing with the construction. What could be some of the reasons for the stones ?
First, there was the concept that the stones were constructed as part of some prayers for the Druids (but there are doubts regarding the timelines). Next, you bring in King Arthur, where, according to Geoffrey of Monmouth, the rocks of Stonehenge were healing rocks, called the ‘Giant’s dance”, brought from Africa to Ireland for their healing properties, wishing to erect a memorial to the around 3000 nobles, who died in battle with the Saxons & were buried at Salisbury. The stones of giant’s ring were originally brought from Africa to Ireland by giants.

Location of Jaipur City Palace on Google Maps:

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The City Palace complex covers a huge area, with gardens, buildings and structures, and courtyards. There are various buildings in the complex such as the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Maharani’s Palace, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum. The Mubarak Mahal is a museum visible as one enters the complex, with the museum being a costume museum, displaying the attires worn by the kings (including one huge dress worn by a very heavily endowed king).
Once you cross the cloth museum, you come across an open hall called the Diwan-I-Khas, which was a hall meant for the king for the private audience (as opposed to the public visiting hall). In this open hall, there are 2 huge silver vessels on display. They were made for a special purpose, to carry enough water of the Holy Ganga (Ganges) for the then Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II when he wanted to visit England. You can also see the Diwan-i-Aam, meant for the public audience by the Maharajah.

Tourists passing through a gate allowing movement between different sections of the Jaipur City Palace

The Ganga Jali meant for carrying holy water to purify the ruler Sawai Madho Singh on his trips

Row of canons parked outside the Jaipur City Palace

Rifles arranged around a central shield just next to the silver urns in Jaipur City Palace

Another museum in the complex is inside the Mahrani’s Mahal (Palace of the Queen, meant for the queens) showcasing a number of weapons starting from the 15th century. You get to see swords, guns, rifles, shields, daggers, and many other weapons. The museum could look much better, since when we went, it seemed much more dusty than normal.

Light and shade in the hall containing the silver urns in the Jaipur City Palace

Guards at the entrance to the cafe of the Jaipur City Palace

Entering the Jaipur City Palace through its main gate

Dolls of different shapes and colors inside the Jaipur City Palace

A beautiful long corridor inside the Jaipur City Palace

A closer view of weapons mounted on a wall in the Jaipur City Palace

Angular view of the beautiful central part of the City Palace in Jaipur

Beautiful buildings and gate inside the City Palace in Jaipur

A view of the cloth museum and beautiful colors of the sky in the Jaipur City Palace

A very well maintained inner section of the Jaipur City Palace

A pigeon walking on the floor of the Diwan-i-Khas (also known as the Sarbato Bhadra)

A music performance and dolls exhibited inside the City Palace in Jaipur

A more detailed look at the private residential part of the Jaipur City Palace

A detailed view of the clock-tower in the Jaipur City Palace

An ornate gate leading to the residential portion of the Jaipur City Place

Canons at the entrance to the private residence of the Jaipur City Palace

A view of the outside gate (form the inside) in the Jaipur City Palace

Location of the Taj Mahal on Google Maps:

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And so we entered the complex. In the beginning of the complex, you cannot see the white structured tomb, you are in a small lane with some trees and smaller structures on both sides that seem to be used as offices by the Archaeological Survey of India. You can see a Gateway, a tall structure through which you pass. As you move towards the Gateway, you can see the white marble construction of the tomb through the Gateway and finally start to get a glimpse of the structure that draws a huge number of crowds every year.

A zoomed image of the Taj Mahal as visible from the Agra Fort

A glimpse of the Taj Mahal through the small outer gate

A diffused view of the outer gate of the Taj Mahal compound and a water fountain

As you are crossing the Gateway, there is a huge rush to get a photo where people can pose with the Taj in the background; given the queue for this act, we decide to move on and not spend the 10 – 15 minutes needed to negotiate this queue as well. As soon as you cross the Gateway, you see a beautiful site, with water pools and fountains leading towards the structure of the Taj Mahal, and green lawns on either side. The whole appearance, seen in numerous photos, looks incredibly beautiful (the photographer in me was hoping for a chance to get a shot when there would not be a tourist visible, but no chance. The only way would have been to come at a time when tourists were not allowed (not possible), or to take numerous shots from the same location so that I could paint out each tourist one by one inside Photoshop Elements – I did not think that this worth the effort).

A view of the area in front of the Taj Mahal – greenery, fountains

A large number of tourists in front of the Taj Mahal in Agra

Another view of the Taj Mahal in Agra with a glimpse of buildings to either side

As you reach the complex of the wonderful white structure, you cannot help but admire the magnificence of such a construction, and the amount of love that would have been in the eyes of an emperor to construct such a monument in the memory of his dead wife (who died when bearing their 14th child). The Taj Mahal (description on Wikipedia) was constructed over a 22 year period by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his dead wife Mumtaz Mahal, and is known the world over. The structure was started in 1632 and completed in 1653, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage monument (although it is under threat of damage from pollution). Shah Jahan was also famous for some of his other buildings such as the Red Fort in Delhi, and the extensions done to the Agra Fort, but construction of the Taj Mahal in white marble was a remarkable new effort at that point of time.
The main white structure of the Taj Mahal is built on a raised platform, and the actual tomb of the empress is in a lower section of the structure (now closed off to the public, with a fake tomb at the ground level); the body of the emperor is buried right next to the empress, and destroys the symmetry of the whole structure. There are 4 minarets surrounding the central dome, inclined slightly outward so that in the event of an earthquake, the minarets will fall away from the dome. Since the raised structure is actually a tomb where prayers are also held, it is forbidden to wear shoes. The complex is open from 9 AM – 7 PM, except on Friday when it is only open for 2 hours in the afternoon for Islamic prayers. During tourist seasons, there can be long queues to get inside the tomb so be prepared to wait, or go there early.

A beautiful angular view of the marble structure of the Taj Mahal

A side view of the Taj Mahal along with the raised platform on which it is built

View of the side of the Taj Mahal along with the minaret to the side

A minaret of the Taj Mahal, half in shade and half in light

Next to the tomb, there are other structures, and the Yamuna is visible from the backside of the monument; however, consider the magnificence of the monument, most people will ignore the other structures and concentrate on the main monument. Next part of this series will contain the trip to Fatehpur Sikri.

An angular view of the Palace next to the Taj Mahal

The once majestic Yamuna river next to the Taj Mahal

Many more photos of the Agra trip at this location.

Hotel Atithi in Agra on Google Maps:

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We reached around noon, and after resting for some time, decided to move towards Agra Fort (description on Wikipedia). We took a local conveyance from the hotel rather than taking our own vehicle, and it was a pretty short distance. Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage monument, and is fairly well maintained. The fort was the headquarters from which most of the Mughals ruled over their vast kingdom, and remains an imposing structure. It is also well frequented by tourists on holidays, so you would need to spend a bit of time in a queue when entering, but after that initial wait, it is perfectly fine inside (although the entry rates are so low that a huge amount of people are always visiting). We had taken a guide when we were entering the fort, and he explained the various palaces, buildings and other structures inside the fort to us.

Tourists walking from the outside gate to the inner gate of the Agra Fort

A view of the well maintained main gate of the Agra Fort along with a huge lawn in front

A beautiful green central square inside the Agra Fort

We really enjoyed the fort, and it took us a couple of hours inside; we saw the separate palaces for the queens and princesses, as well as saw the section where the emperor Shah Jahan was confined, when he was usurped by his son Aurangzeb, locked up inside the fort with a view across the river to the Taj Mahal (the burial spot for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal). This specific location was cordoned off from public view and nobody was allowed to enter.

A small tomb in the courtyard of the Diwan-e-Aam in the Agra Fort

A sample of the architecture of one of the inner buildings inside the Agra Fort

Beautiful building in the Agra Fort

The brightness of the sun over the Agra Fort

The sun peeking through the outer fence of the Agra Fort

Tourists gathered around one of the fountains in the Taj Mahal complex

After exiting the fort, we decided to head over to the Taj Mahal (it was now late afternoon), but the huge queue over there (especially since we did not know whether mobile phones and other possessions were allowed inside) caused a bit of wait. Finally we had to call off the visit since there was no chance that we could get inside (the queue was expected to take another hour, and closing time was in 30 minutes). We decided to visit the Taj Mahal the first thing the next morning.

Many more photos of the Agra trip at this location.

History of Luxor: Luxor was a very famous part of Egyptian history, being earlier known as Thebes, the capital of the New Kingdom. The city started becoming more important in the time of the 11th dynasty, when the town became a big town with important people living in it. It also became a center for religion, art, and the wise. As the Pharaohs who were based here became more powerful militarily, the city became famous even outside Egypt. However, as things rise, they also fall, and it was during the time of the Late Period that Luxor started losing its power, as the political center of Egypt shifted to cities in the north. But, since the city was the center of the powerful god Amon-Ra, Thebes never lost its religious influence, even upto the time of the Greeks when Egypt became less powerful.

Location of Luxor, Egypt on Google Maps:

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Places to visit in Luxor: When you have a location that is so full of history, it is good to know more about the places to see, so that you can draw up your own list. Luxor primarily has 3 different regions for the purpose of tourism; temples and others inside the City of Luxor on the East side of the Nile; the famous town of Karnak just north of Luxor; and the old city of Thebes, (called Waset by the ancient Egyptians), which is on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor.

The City of Luxor:

The Luxor temple does not take very long to visit, and can be visited in a period of around 1 hour. The Temple is situated in the center of the town, and was built by the New Kingdom Pharaoh Amenophis III. It looks really spectacular. The hours are 9am – 6pm and admission is 20 Egyptian Pounds.

We talked about Luxor being a large museum by itself, but as for an actual museum, you have The Mummification Museum. It provides visitors with an understanding of the ancient art of mummification, and answers all the questions you could ever have on this topic. Who knew that reptiles, birds as well as humans were mummified?! (Wikipedia)

The Luxor Museum houses many of the relics found at the Theben temples and necropolis on the west bank. The museum comes highly recommended because it will enrich your experience when you visit the rest of the sites. (Wikipedia). The museum was inaugurated in 1975.

The city of Karnak:

As you move north of Luxor, you get to a view of the magnificent Temples of Karnak (Wikipedia). In ancient times, the area around Karnak was actually known as Ipet-isut, which means ‘The most select of places’. The temple complex of Karnak was built over a time period of 1500 years and was the most important place of worship in ancient Egypt. The site is huge, measuring 1500 x 800 meters, and is a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons and obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban gods. The most spectacular view of this entire complex is the Hypostyle Hall in the Precinct of Amun-Re, a hall area of 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m2) with 134 massive columns arranged in 16 rows. The main deity was the god Amun, head of the Theban Triad; with the name of the complex being derived from the nearby modern village of el-Karnak, some 2.5 km north of Luxor.

Ancient Thebes (West Bank):

Crossing the Nile to the West of the city of Luxor lies the necropolis of ancient Thebes. Because there is so much to see and so much ground to cover, guided tours usually enter 3 tombs at the major archaelogical sites.

The Valley of the Kings: Names so because of Kings (Pharaohs) being buried here. This is where the pharaoh’s were buried and hoped to meet their Gods in the afterlife. Most famous because of the tomb of the boy Pharaoh, Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered in the 1920′s and had remained almost untouched when it was found. However, King Tut was a minor Pharaoh, having lived for only a few years (he dies when he was around 18-19), and his history was also almost eradicated by the second pharaoh who came after him. These tombs have all suffered looting over the ages, and hence when King Tut’s tomb was found untouched, it was a marvellous find. These tombs contained those of the 18th to the 20th Dynasties, and were not like the earlier pyramids, but were cut into the rock and were more difficult to find and rob.

The Valley of the Queens: The Valley of the Queens lies at the southern end of the necropolis. This is where the queens and their children were interred. Only four tombs are open to the public in the Valley of the Queens and if you had to choose just one, it would have to be Queen Nefertari’s tomb, which is the most decorated ones, apparently because she was the favorite queen of the powerful Ramesses II. Tickets are limited to just 150 a day and you are only allowed in for 10 minutes, but it is worth the effort.

The Colossi of Memnon: Two giant statues make up the Colossi of Memnon. Most visitors get a glimpse of them on their way to the Valley of the Kings but it is worth a stop to see them up close.

How to get to Luxor: Since Luxor is so much on the tourist map, it is very well connected through flights, trains and taxis from most places, including from Cairo. Inside Luxor, you can even take a hot-air balloon ride (link)

Blogs / external articles:

1. Which monuments (Tombs / Temples) in Luxor are available when (link)

2. UCLA project related to Karnak (link)

3. Virtual Tourist (link). Detailed overview of the temples and other places in Luxor.

4. A detailed description of Luxor (link)

Even in ancient times, during the late Dynasties of the Greek and Roman periods, the area drew tourists, and has been doing so ever since. Today Luxor is well equipped to accommodate tourists with many hotels and in general a tourist industry ready and willing to serve the people from many countries that descend on this area of the Nile Valley every year.

5. Details of the Valley of the Kings, including the pharaohs buried there (link)

The Egyptian belief that “To speak the name of the dead is to make him live again” is certainly carried out in the building of the tombs. The king’s formal names and titles are inscribed in his tomb along with his images and statues. Beginning with the 18th Dynasty and ending with the 20th, the kings abandoned the Memphis area and built their tombs in Thebes. Also abandoned were the pyramid style tombs. Most of the tombs were cut into the limestone following a similar pattern: three corridors, an antechamber and a sunken sarcophagus chamber.

6. Valley of the Queens (link)

The Tomb of Queent Titi (Tomb 52): She is probably the queen of a 20th Dynasty. She is depicted with the sidelocks common to the Egyptian young of the period and in the presence of the gods Thoth, Atum, Isis and Nephthys. In the next chamber the queen is shown making offerings to Hathor the cow, and in the last chamber the gods Neith, Osiris, Selquit, Nephthys and Thoth.

7. Description of the Colossi of Memmon (link)

Due to an earthquake in 27 BC, these statues became known for a bell like tone that usually occurred in the morning due to rising temperatures and humidity. Thus they were equated by the early Greek travelers with the figure of Memnon, the son of Aurora who’s mother, Eos, was the goddess of dawn. To be granted a song meant that you were very much in favor of the gods. Visitors came from miles around to hear the music, including Emperor Hadrian, in 130 A.D. The Roman emperor Septimius Severus, seeking to repair the statues in 199 AD, inadvertently silenced them forever.

8. Guide to Luxor (link)

9. Wikipedia link of Luxor (link)

ater, the city was attacked by Assyrian emperor Assurbanipal who installed the Libyan prince on the throne, Psammetichus. The city of Thebes was in ruins and fell in significance. However, Alexander the Great did arrive at the temple of Amun, where the statue of the god was transferred from Karnak during the Opet Festival, the great religious feast. The grandeur of Thebes would still remain a site of spirituality, and attracted numerous Christian monks in the Roman Empire who established monasteries amidst several ancient monuments including the temple of Hatshepsut, now called Deir el-Bahri (“the northern monastery”).

Videos of Luxor on Youtube:

Luxor at night – Karnak – Hatshepsut

Egypt 2007 – Luxor King and Queen valley, Hatshepsut, Karnak

Temples in Luxor Egypt 2003

Karnak Temple Luxor Egypt

The Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt

Colossi Of Memnon & Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple

Shopping Market Bazaar In Luxor Egypt

Valley of the Queens, Luxor, Egypt

Hot air ballooning over Luxor in Egypt

Luxor at night

Egypt (Eyewitness Travel Guides) (Paperback)

The Rough Guide to Egypt 7 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

Global Treasures LUXOR Egypt – DVD

Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, 3rd (Cadogan Guides Cairo, Luxor, Aswan) (Paperback)

(Photo taken from Flickr)

Abu Simbel on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Over the ages, the temples were lost to the sands of time, with sand covering them up; it was only in 1813 that Swiss orientalist JL Burckhardt discovered the top of the main temple, and it was only in another visit in 1817 that the Italian explorer Giovanni Belzoni (with whom Burckhardt had shared information about the visit) managed to enter the temple, and it was after that visit that the temple became famous among tourists. One curious fact is about why the temple is named ‘Abu Simbel’. This is apparently because there was a young boy who would guide the early discoverers to the site, and the temple got named after him.
The main view that people have of the temple is of the rock-cut façade where there are the four colossal seated figures of Ramses. This facade has impressive dimensions, being one 119 feet wide, and 100 feet high, and the colossal statues themselves are 67 feet in height. At the top of the pylon, is a row of stone baboons, (known as Watchers of the Dawn), with them being shown with their hands raised in adoration of the (rising) sun. The Egyptians believed baboons played a role in helping the sun god Ra defeat the darkness of night and so were believed sacred to the worship of the rising sun.
Another interesting fact about the design of the temples was the fact that they were designed to catch the rays of the sun on 2 specific days of the year – on February and October 20, the rays of the sun would get inside the depth of the temple and in a wonder of design, shine on the sculpture on the back wall, with just the exception of statue of Ptah (the god connected with the Underworld who always remained in the dark). There is no complete clarity on the reasons for these 2 dates, with supposition being that these dates are the king’s birthday and coronation day respectively, no confirmation though. When the temple was moved to prevent it from going underwater, this link was maintained.

How to get to Abu Simbel: Given that it is one of the most visited tourist site, there is a well defined way of getting there.

By flight: This is a less taken option, but there are flights from Cairo and Aswan to Abu Simbel. Egypt Air (http://www.egyptair.com) provides flights on this route.

By car: Because of security issues, foreigners cannot travel by car.

By bus: There are twice a day convoys that go from Aswan to Abu Simbel by coach or minibus, with police escort. These can be booked in advance, either through your travel agent, or through the hotel where you are booked.

Blogs / Articles:

1. Detailed view of Abu Simbel, including details of the temple (Wikipedia)

The complex consists of two temples. The larger one is dedicated to Ra-Harakhty, Ptah and Amun, Egypt’s three state deities of the time, and features four large statues of Ramesses II in the facade. The smaller temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor, personified by Nefertari, Ramesses’s most beloved wife (in total, the pharaoh had some 200 wives and concubines). The temple is now open to the public.

2. Many photos at virtualtourist.com (link)

3. Travelblog.com (link)

4. Egypt’s Abu Simbel (link)

There are two temples in the complex. The larger one is dedicated to Egypt’s three deities (Re-Herakhty, Ptah, Amen) while the smaller temple is honored to goddess Hathor. As you enter these temples, you can see Ramses’ statues all around and for you to understand, Pharaoh Ramses has over two hundred wives and concubines.

5. catswhistertours.com (link)

Memories of Abu Simbel will linger with me for a long time, not least because the visit entailed a 2.30am start and a long coach drive through the desert to reach the site just after dawn broke. Like many equivalent sites in Egypt I felt I was just part of a mass tourism production line with quality of information and the overall visitor experience somewhat mediocre. Compared to this the quality of information etc., at a typical Historic Scotland site is on a different (higher) level, but that said the climates are not comparable and Egypt is not Scotland.

6. The Abu Simbel Relocation (link)

Lost once to the sands of the desert, Abu Simbel was almost lost for a second time when the construction of the Aswan High Dam threatened to submerge the site under the waters of Lake Nasser. The Egyptian government along with UNESCO and a team of engineers, scientists and archaeologists worked for four years to relocate the monument 200 feet from the original site.

7. Hotels in Sbu Simbel (link)

Nefertari Hotel Abu Simbel – This hotel offers comfortable accommodations and quality services to Abu Simbel travelers. It is situated along Antonion Ayouyo Street near T Lake Nasser. The city center is merely 2 kilometers away and the Abu Simbel Airport is merely 3 kilometers away.

8. Description of Abu Simbel by Professor Yasser Metwally along with photos and videos (link)

Between the legs and on each of their sides stand smaller statues of members of the royal family. The smaller statues of relatives were probably, for the first southern colossus: Queen Nefretari by the left leg, the king’s mother, the great wife of Seti I, Muttuya by his right leg, and Prince Amenhirkhopshef in front. For the second southern colossus, Princess Bent’anta stood by the left leg, Princess Nebettawyby the left, and one unnamed female figure, probably that of a lesser royal wife named Esenofre.

9. Description of the temple (link)

Four colossal 20 meter statues of the pharaoh with the double Atef crown of Upper and Lower Egypt decorate the facade of the temple, which is 35 meters wide and is topped by a frieze with 22 baboons, worshippers of the sun and flank the entrance. The colossal statues were sculptured directly from the rock in which the temple was located before it was moved. All statues represent Ramesses II, seated on a throne and wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. The statue to the left of the entrance was damaged in an earthquake, leaving only the lower part of the statue still intact. The head and torso can still be seen at the statue’s feet.

Photos of Abu Simbel: No Photos allowed inside the temple.

1. At the door of Nefertari (Ramses wife) temple in Abu Simbel, Egypt right before sunrise (link)

2. Photos of the temple and relief paintings (link)

3. Photos of Abu Simbel at travelphoto.net (link)

4. Abu Simbel Photos at trekearth.com (link)

5. Large photos at this blog (link)

6. Photo Gallery of Abu Simbel at National Geographic (link)

7. Photos at Fotosearch (link)

8. Photos inside the temple at Abu Simbel, some beautiful photos (link)

9. Links to more photos at Infohub.com (link)

10. Photos of Abu Simbel with description (link)

Videos about Abu Simbel at Youtube:

See Abu Simbel in Egypt – Things to do before you die – BBC

Travelogue about Egypt by John Sawyer

Abu Simbel Two Temples Egypt

Egypt’s most famous temple, a clip from “King Tut, Ramses and Me”, a free Intrepid Berkeley Explorer video of time travel in Egypt

Aswan/Abu Simbel

Global Treasures – ABU SIMBEL – Egypt

Some books / Videos:

The Mysteries of Abu Simbel: Ramesses II and the Temples of the Rising Sun (Paperback)

Global Treasures ABU SIMBEL Egypt:

National Geographic: Engineering Egypt (2007)

Historic Print (S): The sixty-five foot portrait statues of Ramses II, before rockhewn temple of Abu Simbel

Luxor Illustrated: With Aswan, Abu Simbel, and the Nile (Paperback)

Abu Simbel Posters:
1. Ramses Temple and the Nile Shoreline at Abu Simbel Photographic Poster Print by David Boyer, 56×42
2. Night View of the Temple and Statues at Abu Simbel Photographic Poster Print by O. Louis Mazzatenta, 64×48
3. Large Statues in Temple at Abu Simbel Photographic Poster Print by Eliot Elisofon, 24×32
4. The Temple of Re-Herakhte for Ramses II, Abu Simbel Photographic Poster Print by Robert Harding, 16×12