Kharga
Oasis
Major Cities and Towns
El Kharga
Description
Kharga used to be the last but one stop on
The Forty Days Road, the infamous slave-trade route between
North Africa and the tropical south. Today, it is the biggest
New Valley oasis and its modern city houses 60,000 people, including
1,000 Nubians who moved here after the creation of lake Nasser.
Outside the main center is the Temple of Hibis, built on the
site of an 18th dynasty settlement of Saites, Persians and Ptolemies
One of the few Persian monuments in Egypt, the 6th century BC
temple is well-preserved with painted vultures and huge reliefs
of Darius greeting Egyptian gods on the outer walls. Ten kilometers
away, the Necropolis of al-Bagawat contains 263 mud-brick chapels
with Coptic murals, including the Chapel of Peace with images
of Adam and Eve and the Ark on its dome and the Chapel of the
Exodus with frescoes of pharaonic troops pursuing the Jews led
by Moses, out of Egypt. Pharaonic monuments include the al-Hhuwaytah
Temple which dates from 522 BC and the Temple of Amenebis.
The thermal springs at Bulaq and Nasser villages to the south,
are famous for water temperatures of up to 43 C and reputed
to be suitable for the treatment of rheumatism and allergies.
Camping facilities are available near both villages. Further
south is Baris Oasis, the second largest settlement in Kharga.
Houses designed in traditional Nubian style by Hassan Fathy
remain uninhabited- local people refused to live in them because
of their similarity to tombs and building stopped in the late
1960s. Ancient monuments include the Temple of
Dush, dedicated to Isis and Serapis. Its name derives from Kush,
the ancient Sudanese capital which traded with Egypt along the
Nile. Archeologists are still unearthing the ancient city of
Kysis and elaborate system of clay pipes and abandoned Christian
church, suggest that Kysis was abandoned when its underground
springs dried up but the exact date remains a mystery.
How to Get to Kharga
From outside Egypt
International flights direct to Cairo, then either an internal
flight (see below) or overland by bus or by car.
From Cairo
Overland
You may like to book a tour through a travel agent or hire
your own transport. Bear in mind that desert driving has special
requirements and be sure to get a suitable vehicle and guidance
on possible hazards. 0therwise you can travel to each location
by bus or service taxi and arrange trips from there.
Kharga:
Buses from the Al Azhar terminal, near Midan Ataba.
By air
Egypt Air runs twice-weekly flights to Kharga Tel: +20-2-5750600
(Cairo)
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