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Luxor

Luxor, which is also famous as the “Worlds Open Air Museum”, has an importance in Egypt's ancient history. Luxor is an ionic city which has a lot of ancient tombs, temples and monuments which makes it a must visited destination for the tourists. In this article, we will share all about the ancient history, modern significance and facts about the legendary city Luxor.

History of Luxor:

Luxor was the capital city of Egyptian Pharaohs during (1550–1070 BCE) and a hub of religion and politics for the pharaonic empire. This city got importance in the 11th dynasty when it was considered for military campaigns and religious rituals. Karnak temple complex and Luxor temple which was considered the home of Amun-Ra (King of gods). These temples were used for the religious festivals and major celebrations. The west side of the Luxor is considered as a burial site for the pharaohs, queens and officials. The valley of kings holds more than 63 tombs of pharaohs which also shows their belief in the afterlife. Most of the monuments in the city were built under the rulers of Amenhotep III, Hatshepsut, and Ramses II which show their cultural and spiritual epicenter. In the Greek and Roman times, cities thrived and temples remained as important religious sites. Now, in modern times Luxor is an UNESCO world heritage site that is preserving the legacy of ancient pharaohs.

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Luxor & Karnak

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Location of Luxor:

City is located in southern Egypt along the east bank of the Nile river 416 miles away from Cairo which is the capital of Egypt. City has its own international airport which makes it easily accessible for tourists.

Top Attractions in Luxor:

There are bundle of monuments, temples and tombs in luxor that are worth visiting and here are some most famous attractions:

• Karnak Temple: There are colossal statues along towering obelisks and a hypostyle hall which holds a massive 134 columns. 
• Luxor Temple: The temple was constructed under the rule of Amenhotep III and Ramses II which has massive statues at entrance. 
• Valley of Kings: This valley is considered as a royal burial ground that holds more than 63 tombs and was discovered in 1922 by a British archaeologist. 
• Valley of Queens: It is considered as the burial ground for the queens and childrens which was discovered by an Italian archaeologist. 
• Hatshepsut’s: The masterpiece of architectural skills of ancient Egyptians, the temple was built into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari.
• Colossi of Memnon: The massive stone statues of Amenhotep III which was considered as guard on the west of Nile.
• Luxor Museum: The museum holds the artifacts, jewelry, status and items from the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Natural Beauty of Luxor:

Luxor also holds natural beauty as the Nile is a starting or ending point for the Nile cruises that pass through the iconic sites and tombs like Edfu and Kom Ombo. There is also Banana Island in Luxor which has lush plantations. The Hot Air Balloon ride that gives panoramic views of temples is the most famous tourist activity in Luxor. 

Interesting Facts about Luxor: 

Here are the some interesting facts about the city:

• Luxor has one-third of the world's ancient monuments.
• There are over 1000 statues of the sphinx on the 2.7 km pathway that connects the luxor and karnak temple. 
• In ancient times Luxor was known with the name of “Waset” meaning City of the Scepter and nowadays also known as the world's greatest open air museum.
• The burial ground valley of kings was strategically located alongside the sunset direction which shows the belief of  afterlife.Same as in Cairo the Pyramids burial chamber of Pharaohs. 

Famous Food:

There were lot of dishes famous in Egypt, following are the some:

• Taameya (Egyptian Falafel)
• FattaStuffed Pigeons
• Kushari
• Sugarcane Juice

Excursions From Luxor:

Luxor is a city worth visiting if you are going to Egypt to explore ancient history. Some mus visited excursions are:

• Day Tour to the Luxor West Bank in which you can explore hatshepsut, valley of king and colossi of memnon. 
• Day Trip to Luxor East Bank in which you can visit the Karnak temple, Luxor temple.
• A hot air balloon ride in the morning or sunset makes your trip charming.
• Light show at night at Luxor temple.
• Felucca boat ride in nile towards the Banana Island.
• Day tour to Edfu and Kom Ombo from Luxor is also worth visiting.
• There is also a 4 or 5 day Nile cruise excursion which makes your trip memorable.
  
  

Excursions

From Luxor

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Festivals and celebrations in Luxor:

Opet Festival which was an ancient festival is revived in modern times honoring Amun-Ra. Luxor African Film Festival in which presents the exchange of the culture. In Ramadan islamic month, the city fills with light and festival activities. 

Best Time To Visit:

Luxor weather is cooler during the months of November till February. Summer months are extremely hot but manageable in mornings and evenings.

Conclusion:

Luxor holds the cultural, ancient religious and architectural significance which makes it worth visiting for the tourists. Ancient temples attract ancient history explorers from all over the world. A complete department to explore and learn about the ancient Egyptian lifestyle.