Luxor, Egypt
Temple in Luxor, Egypt
At the foot of the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari on Luxor's West Bank, three broad limestone terraces climb towards the rock face in a design unlike any other Egyptian temple. This is the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, the 18th Dynasty female pharaoh, called Djeser-Djeseru, the Holy of Holies, in her day. It was built between her seventh and twentieth regnal years and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of ancient architecture. The middle terrace carries the reliefs of her trading expedition to the land of Punt, with ships, incense trees, animals and the people of Punt drawn in fine detail. To either side are the Hathor chapel, with columns topped by the goddess's face, and the Anubis chapel, where the blue paint is still vivid. Osiride statues of the queen line the upper terrace. The temple is aligned across the river with Karnak, and was a stop for the annual Beautiful Festival of the Valley procession that set out from there.
The cliff throws back the heat, so arrive at opening time; after 10:00 it gets hot and busy. Allow an hour and a half. From the car park to the temple you can walk or take the small shuttle cart. The ramps between terraces are long and exposed, so bring water and a hat. The classic full-front photo is from the approach path before you reach the temple.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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AttractionLuxor, Egypt
