Great Pyramids of Giza

“You can’t go to the Pyramids my friend, they are shut” said a friendly local as we approached Giza on the outskirts of Cairo. Despite his unsolicited tips we continued towards the Great Pyramids of Giza – which, lo and behold, were still visible, as they have been for visitors from all over the globe for millennia before.

The Giza Pyramid complex is the symbol of Egypt and occupies premier positioning on most travelers bucket lists. The pyramid complex actually comprises of 3 main pyramids – the Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu), the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure, together with the Great Sphinx and 3 more minor pyramids. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the last surviving of the 7 ancient wonders of the world and remains one of the best known attractions worldwide.

These symmetrical stone structures we built as final resting places and mausoleums for the deceased Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom, with initial construction starting over 4500 years ago. Each pyramid was constructed by putting together massive red granite blocks, a feat that showcases the immense engineering skills of the ancient Egyptians. The Great Pyramid alone consists of over 2 million such blocks, each block weighing about 2.5 tons. It would be quite teh undertaking to construct these structures today using modern technologies, so it’s amazing that the Egyptians were able to construct these stunning structures with the most basic of tools and implements of their time.

Valley of Kings

Unlike the Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom, the royalty of the New Kingdom preferred to be interred in a more nondescript location – within burial chambers that were dug deep into the mountains along the west bank of the River Nike in Luxor. Spanning 500 years from the 16th to 11th centuries BC, the Valley of the Kings served as the final resting place for Pharaohs from the 18th to 20th dynasties. Some famous Pharaoh residents include Rameses V, female Pharaoh Hatshepsut, and Amhenotep to name a few.

It was in these caves carved deep into the mountains where the Pharaohs awaited the afterlife from their lavishly decorated mausoleums and surrounded by earthly treasures. The richly decorated ceilings and walls offer a glimpse of moments from the occupants illustrious life, as well as a view into prevalent burial customs and beliefs of the day. Their ‘secret’ location did not last for long though, and the Valley of Kong’s and it’s tombs were both tourist destinations and looting targets since antiquity.

At last count 63 tombs have been discovered so far in the Valley of Kings. None is more famous than that of Tutankhamun- which was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter. The teenage Pharaoh’s tomb surprisingly was never looted, and had been a great source of Egyptology treasures.

Karnak Temple

Another of Luxor’s main attractions is the Temple of Karnak. After the Great Pyramids, Karnak is the 2nd most visited site in Egypt. The sprawling temple complex is considered to be one of the largest religious structures in the world, with an area sprawling over 100 hectares. The best known temple precinct within the complex is the one dedicated to the God Amun-Ra, whom the ancient Egyptians believed to be the creator of the universe.

Construction of the temples began with the Pharaohs of the old king down in 2000 BC, and over 30 Pharaohs contributed to subsequent additions and expansions till around 30 BC. Just walking through the remains of the open air temple complex ruins is awe inspiring, looking up and marveling at the massive hypostyles (70 ft pillars) inscribed with hieroglyphics and symbols, the many free standing obelisks, and countless Sphinx statues. It must’ve truly been stunning in ancient times, when the roof as still intact and all the walls, columns and roof were decorated in rich colors.