Egypt Attractions

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Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt


Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a revival of the ancient legendary library of Egypt located at Alexandria during the Greek period. The rebuilding of the library gives Alexandria back the status of center for learning. The new building of Bibliotheca Alexandrina is technically outstanding.

This major library as well as the cultural center of Alexandria is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. At present Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a complex that houses different sections for different groups of people of every age. It includes a conference center, specialized libraries for blind and also for the youth section. There is also a section particularly for children and it include three museums, four art galleries, a planetarium and a manuscript laboratory.

However besides then center of learning and knowledge, this new library of Alexandria is equally attractive for its architecture. Designed as a tilting disc rising from the ground with four levels below the ground and seven above, the library's main room stands below the 32-meter high glass-panelled roof and measures 160 meter in diameter.

The circular diaphragm wall of the library is considered as the largest in the world, with a diameter of 160 meters and height of 35 meters. The circular form of the library has its own symbolic significance and an iconic presence among the structures of Egypt. The exterior wall of Bibliotheca Alexandrina is made of four thousand granite blocks inscribed with the letters from the alphabets of the world.

The main reading area of the library is a single open space with eight terraces. However one of the most successful features of the new library building is its use of natural light, drawn in through glazed panels on the roof. The library and the planetarium of Bibliotheca Alexandrina are linked at basement level.

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Cairo Tower, Egypt

The Cairo Tower is a concrete T.V tower located in the Zamalek district on Gezira Island in the River Nile. The tower is 187 meters high that is 47 meters high than the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Tower is ranked fourth among the tallest towers in the world and gives the visitors the best view of the city. The Cairo Tower is made up of granite and imitates a lotus plant as it opens up on the top.

The Cairo Tower in Egypt has hosted several important dignitaries and is popular for as dining venue. One here would also find a revolving restaurant that is popular for its food. For the Late President Gamal Abdul Nasser the tower restaurant was a favorite place to dine out with his family. One here would find a book that contains the signatures of all the important dignitaries who visited the tower.

The best time to visit the Cairo Tower is in the evening or at sunset time when one would be able to see the city glowing. Towards the west of the city one would be able to see the pyramids and the desert that marks the city limits.

The Cairo Tower was constructed in 1961 under the guidance of Naum Chebib. It is said that the Great Pyramid inspires the tower. The tower has also become a major landmark of the city and showcases the modernity of the ancient city. The tower opens at 9 am till 1 am and one needs to buy tickets and also special tickets for cameras.

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City of the Dead, Egypt

The City of Dead in Egypt is an ancient cemetery at the same time a living city. In the past the rulers in Cairo used this area to burry their dead as it was outside the city. But history reveals that since the time of Pharaohs the burial place was considered to be a place where life begins.

From 14th century onwards one finds that the City of Dead began to be occupied for dwelling and the cenotaphs were used as place to entertain the guests. Today these cenotaphs are used as tables and are important in this part of the city.

But the City of Dead in Cairo has become a permanent shelter for the urban poor, as the stay here is inexpensive. Here one would find communities living here as a tolerated separate society. According the statistics there are approximately five million Egyptians living in the City of Dead.

In modern times the cities lack of urban infrastructure and unaffordable housing has led to several communities to embrace the cemeteries and make it a part of their lives. But this has been without any qualms, as traditionally Egyptians have never seen cemeteries as a place of dread but where life begins. But given an opportunity the residents would definitely like moving out.

But in the tour to Cairo one should visit the City of Dead as this place has a charm of its own, as it is so different from the rest of the city. It would also be a time to know how the people live in this part of the city.

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Coptic Museum, Egypt

Coptic Museum in Egypt showcases the ancient Egyptian art, Pharaoh and the Graeco- Roman period and the Islamic era. The museum is located at a historic place- the precincts of the ancient Babylonian Fort. The objects displayed at the Coptic Museum are approximately 16000 that are arranged in chronological order.

The collections at the Coptic Museum in Egypt include the antiquities from the Coptic period (300 - 1000 AD) and are the richest repository of Coptic art in the world. The museum is divided into two sections - the old wing with 13 sections and the new wing with 17 sections. The collections at the Old wing in the Coptic Museum include wood furnishings, ceiling panels, etc. The collections in the new wing highlight the geometric designs, scrolls of acanthus, vine leaves and others that are passed on to Islamic art in Egypt.

The Coptic Museum in Cairo holds the artifacts made by Copts throughout the ages with the exhibits arranged in chronological order. Here at the entrance of the museum the limestone façade resembles the façade of the Mosque of al-Aqmar. This highlights the importance of artistic relationship between the Copts and the Muslim rulers in the Fatimid period.

Morcos Smeika Pasha founded the Coptic Museum in Egypt in 1910 AD to understand the history of Christianity in Egypt. The Coptic Museum in Egypt covers 8000 square meters and includes buildings and gardens. The Museum is under the auspices of Ministry of Culture and is a popular attraction amongst the travelers.

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Dakhla Oasis, Egypt

Egypt - Ras El Sudr - Marsa Alam - Luxor - Hurghada - Aswan - Alexandria - Abu Simbel - Sharm el Sheikh

Dakhla Oasis is one of the most beautiful oases of Egypt lying northwest of Kharga and 310 km southeast of Farafra. It is the farthest oasis from the capital city of Cairo.

Dakhla Oasis in the earlier times was a very lush green region filled with orchards field and a vast lake but soon this wet era passed and what left was the remains of the sand. With the advancement of Western desert region most of the people of Dakhla Oasis migrated from south to the east leaving their ancient treasure to the hands of never fulfilled desert.

The oldest inscription excavated here dated to the reign of Teti king belonging to Old Kingdom period. Little evidences of Ptolemaic era have also been discovered from the sites excavated in Oasis. Among the remains most of the objects belong to the roman period. Roman farms, villages and cemeteries have been found throughout the Oasis.

A rose-colored rock wall on its northern horizon dominates Dakhla Oasis. Mut, the capital of Dakhla Oasis houses Museum of Inheritance. Museum of Inheritance is a traditional house that displays different aspects of Dakhlan cultural and social life.

Another destination of Dakhla Oasis is Al-Kasr located about 35 km away from Mut. Al-Kasr was originally a Roman settlement that became capital of Dakhla in medieval time. The old town of Al-Kasr is a mud-walled labyrinth including separate houses. There is also an Ayyubid mosque. For a wonderful view of the Dakhlan area climb the rooftop of the 10th century madrassa.

Along with the ancient remains of Dakhla Oasis, one can also see Al-Muzawaka tombs belonging to 1st century and Deir al Hagar, a temple dedicated to Theban Triad. There is also a picnic spot on the road back to Mut known by the name of Bir al-Gabel.

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Eastern (Arabian) Desert, Egypt

Eastern (Arabian) Desert of Egypt is the largest desert in eastern Egypt. Covering an area of about 85,690 sq miles, this largest desert of Eastern Egypt originates from southeast of the Nile River Delta. It extends up to northeastern Sudan in southeast direction and from the Nile river valley eastward to Gulf of Suez and Red Sea.

Also known by the name of "Arabian Desert", the Eastern Desert of Egypt is well dissected. In the east it rises up to a formidable range of mountains some of them achieving height of 6,600 ft and 7,176ft. But there is a considerable decrease in the height in stages at the Red Sea. Numerous dry valleys divide this hilly desert terrain of Egypt. But during the rainfall season, these dry valleys give birth to luxuriant vegetation.

The caravan routes across the desert between the Nile Valley and the Red Sea had served as a trade route used for trading purpose with Sinai, Arabia, India and with the countries located on the east coast of African Continent. Later Egyptian pilgrims for reaching Mecca followed these routes after the arrival of Islam.

The Eastern (Arabian) Desert of Egypt comprises of almost one-fourth of total land surface of Egypt. The northern tier of the Arabian Desert is a limestone plateau that stretches from the Mediterranean coastal plain to a point opposite Qina.

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Egyptian Antiquities Museum, Egypt


Egyptian Antiquities Museum of Egypt commonly known as the Egyptian Museum is located in the capital city of Cairo. This museum houses the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. Established by Egyptian government in 1835 to protect the rich heritage of ancient Egyptian antiquates. Earlier the museum was in the annex of palace of Isma'il Pasha in Giza but in 1900 under Gaston Maspero, museum moved to its present location of Tahrir Square in Cairo's city center.

Built during the reign of Khedive Abbass Helmi II in 1897 and opened in 1902, the Egyptian Museum has 107 halls. The ground floor of the museum has huge statues while the upper floor of the museum houses small statues, jewels, Tutankhamun treasures and the mummies. Besides of its collection halls it also comprises of a section on photography and a large library.

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities display an 'Object of the Month', which is the prime center of attraction between the visitors. Behind it there is a display of some of the valuable and rare items from the time of unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. The most famous item among them is the slate palette of King Narmer-considered as one of the earliest documents of Egyptian history. Along with it other smaller gems of sculpture art are also on display.

The four gilded shrines of Tutankhamun's tomb nested one inside the other is also on display in the Egyptian Museum. These shrines are lined in decreasing size. Along with these four shrines, chariots, gloves, jewellery and the famous golden mask of Tutankhamun and many other antiquities of his tomb are on display. The upper floor of the Museum also houses a specific Mummy Room, which has mummies of some of the great rulers of Ancient Egypt.