El Kharga Oasis is one of the most fabulous places in Egypt, especially at sunset. It is the capital of the New Valley Governorate. El Kharga Oasis is located 550 km south of Cairo.
History of Kharga Oasis:
El Kharga Oasis was an important point on the trade route during the 12th dynasty. This oasis was the southwestern gateway to Egypt, as it linked between Egypt and Africa through the Arbaeen Road.
During the Coptic period, many of the Copts of Egypt fled to the Egyptian oases in the western desert, including El Kharga Oasis, to escape from the persecution of the Romans, where they would live in peace. They left many monuments in these sites, such as the cemetery of El-Bagawat.
About 20 thousand people live in the Kharga Oasis. There is a road network linking between Kharga and the Nile Valley, and there are direct domestic flights from Cairo to the New Valley Airport.
Kharga includes many tourist attractions such as:
Hibis Temple: Hibis temple is located one kilometer north of Kharga. This temple was built during the 26th dynasty. This temple is dedicated to (Amun, Mut, Khonsu). The temple was expanded during the period of Nectanebo I and Nectanebo II, and Ptolemy II added to it the two outer gates. This temple is characterized by a wonderful and unique inscription.
El-Bagawat Cemetery: It is located 3 km north of Kharga, behind the Hibis temple. This cemetery was called by this name because of its architectural style, as the tombs were built in the form of domes. Bagawat is the Arabic language that means domes.
The tombs of El Bagawat are characterized by colorful Coptic inscriptions and writings. The most important cemeteries in El-Bagawat are:
- The Exodus tomb, which contains inscriptions representing the exodus of Israel from Egypt with the Prophet Moses.
- The Peace tomb, which has inscriptions of the Virgin Mary.
Ghweita Temple: It is 25 km south of Kharga and is dedicated to (Amun, Mut, Khonsu).
Temple of Qasr al-Zayan: It is 5 km south of Ghweita Temple. This temple was built in the Ptolemaic period and expanded in the Roman period.
El Kharga Museum: It displays many of the artifacts found in the archaeological sites of the New Valley
you can visit El Kharga Oasis with Kharga and Dakhla Oases from Luxor