Kharga Oasis
El Kharga Oasis is one of Egypt most modern and bustling oases that still retains the allure of the desert. As soon as you arrive there, the tang of dates will assault your nose and the sight of the date palms will capture your eyes marking the typical oasis mirage.
If a desert expedition is what you’re after, then come to Kharga Oasis and let your self be enchanted by the mystery of its sand dunes. You can also let the warm water of its thermal springs cuddle you while pleasing your eyes with a breathtaking view of the glittering stars.
El Kharga Oasis is your ticket to a journey through various eras of fame and glory. Historical references indicate that expeditions to El Kharga Oasis date back to the Old Kingdom, although little evidence remains about its existence in Pharaonic times. With the arrival of Romans to Egypt, El Kharga’s prosperity escalated as they created new wells of cultivation and a series of settlements to protect caravan trade routes. These Roman Settlements are considered a must to see sight in Kharga. History enthusiast have just find their place to be, as Kharga has numerous awe inspiring historical attractions that worth visiting.
Pottery is one if the crafts celebrated in Kharga, so when you are there don’t miss visiting the various shops selling ceramic products as well as the pottery factory. You can also get some good bargains at Kharga’s lively bazaar or souk.
The Oasis of
Al-Kharga was a prosperous place in ancient times and was linked with the Nile
Valley by many trade routes. Herodotus mentions that the great Persian King
Campuses sent a huge army from Thebes in order to destroy the Oracle Temple of
Amon-Zeus at Siwa. 50,000 men strong, they reached Al-Kharga Oasis,
stopped for food and water and continued their march towards Siwa. Then,
all 50,000 of them simply vanished in the Western Desert. Some historians
suggest that the Persian army sunk in the Great Sea of Sand which extends along
the borders between Egypt and Libya, nut no one is sure exactly want happened
to them to this day.
The Temple of Hibis is one of the few well preserved Persian monuments
remaining in Egypt. Dating from the 6th century BC, it features painted
vultures and huge reliefs of Darius greeting Egyptian gods on its outer walls.
10 Km 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 Moses and the Jews out of Egypt.
The temple of Dush some 125 kilometres south of Al Kharga is deep in the Sahara Desert. Called Kysis in ancient times, few of Egypt's ruins are more remote, but this was a major military installation during the Roman period. The Temple of Al Ghuwaytah is dedicated to the Theban Triad (Amun, Mut and Khonsu) and dates back to the 27th Dynasty. It was completed by Ptolemy III, IV and X and is one of the few temples in the area that is completely Ptolemaic in origin. Al Zayyan Temple is thought to be Greek originally, although the temple itself is part of a fortress chain built during the Ptolemaic period when it was known as the Great Well (Tchonemyris).