Been there | Luxor Profile

Temple of Luxor
Photo:Corbis

Jewel of the Nile

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The town of Luxor in Upper Egypt has been a tourist destination for many centuries. Known as El-Uqsur by the Arabs, and formerly called Thebes by the Greeks, it served as the capital of the New Kingdom of Egyptian rule between 1567 and 1085BC. Here one can view magnificent temples and the Pharaohs’ mysterious burial grounds on the banks of the Nile. For the western visitor fresh from Europe, this is undoubtedly a powerful place.

The sights, sounds and smells confirm that you’ve suddenly arrived in a very different world to that left behind. A stroll down Sharia Ahmes, for example, will let you witness life in a traditional Egyptian-Arab bazaar. A trip to a village on the west bank will transport you back to an environment and lifestyle little changed in millennia. Luxor also serves as an excellent base from which to view other sights: at Dendarah, Esna, and Edfu. For a glimpse of Africa, Aswan is just three hours away by road: a beautiful, relaxed town with its own spectacular monuments.

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