Egypt – The Mother of all Mummies(Part I - Cairo and its Whereabouts)

Egypt has lot of history to offer and the main halts in Egypt are Cairo, Aswan and Luxor. Alexandria and Dahab are other two popular cities.  

Cairo : Sights to See

The Pyramid of Khufu is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in Egypt. It is the only one of the initial Seven Wonders of the World to be intact. As per records, initially at 146.5 metres (480.6 ft), the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years, the longest period of time ever held for such a record. The Pyramids are so huge that it is impossible to capture them in a frame while standing next to them.

On our first day in Cairo our rendezvous with the Pyramids was scheduled. Our first impression of this marvel architecture was awe inspiring. We kept looking for the Pyramids at ground level, from our hotel balcony, only to discover after a long time that it was towering above all the buildings and flyover in the distance. The Pyramids are colossal.

First faint glimpse of Pyramids from our hotel balcony. If you look closely you can see it behind the lamp post

A vantage view of the three main pyramids along with the satellite pyramids

Pyramid of Khafre

Pyramids were mainly burial chambers of kings built during their lifetime as a result of their belief in after life. In the tombs the mummified bodies of the kings were accompanied by lots of treasures and everything that they would need in their second life to lead a comfortable life, so much so that they also carried figurines of their servants who would serve them in the after-life. The walls of the tombs were beautifully carved with images of Egyptian Gods and hieroglyphics giving the code to revive in after-life.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu allows entry inside the tomb for a fee. It is supposed to be a very long and narrow passageway which leads one to the sarcophagus, the resting place of the mummy, which is now empty. We decided not to go inside given that we were unsure how our daughter will react. If you are keen on getting a glimpse of the tomb you can do the same in Valley of the Kings.

Entrance to Great Pyramid of Khufu

Close to the Pyramids you can experience a ride on the Ship of the Desert, the camels. For us this usual serene ride turned a bit adventurous as our two camels decided to show us their ferocious side by launching into a fight while we were still on them. With me screaming and almost at the edge of my seat just short of falling off, you can very well imagine the experience.  

All smiles unaware of what we were going to experience shortly :-)...

A short distance away from the Pyramids lays the very famous Sphinx, the worl-renowned face of Egypt. Representing a mythical creature with body of a lion and a human head, the Sphinx seems to stand guard at the Giza complex. It is believed to be the largest monolith in the world. 

Great Sphinx of Giza

A sound and light show is held every evening close to the above site. You must attend this.

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities - Egyptian Museum houses an extensive collection of Egyptian treasures and antiques. It also has a Royal Mummy Room where the recovered mummies of ancient rulers including that of Ramses and Queen Hatshepsut are resting.  The entry fee to the Mummy room is additional, if not included in your package.

The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities

The most significant feature of the museum is the Tutankhamun Gallery which houses the treasures excavated and recovered from the tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922. Apparently this is the only tomb which had its treasures and sarcophagus intact, as all other tombs had been raided and robbed at some point in time. Here in this gallery you will get to see the most recognizable symbols of Ancient Egypt, the golden mask of King Tutankhamun. The treasures recovered give a very good insight into the thinking and beliefs of that time. 

Note : Photography is not allowed inside the museum.

The Citadel - Located in the heart of the city lays another landmark of Cairo, the Citadel. Citadel is said to have housed Egypt’s rulers for around 700 years. The external architecture is as exquisite as the inside of the mosque that is housed in the Citadel. You need to take off your shoes and carry them with you when visiting the mosque. 

The Citadel

The central courtyard inside the Citadel

Inside the Main Hall

Coptic Cairo - Coptic Cairo is a part of Old Cairo which is a major religious destination for Christians. Here you will find The Church of St. Sergius which is supposedly built over the cave where the Holy Family is believed to have taken shelter while escaping from King Herod. Photography is not allowed.

In this area you will also find the Hanging Church that is built over the gatehouse of Babylon Fortress. The architecture is magnificent and the church is an ideal place to spend a few moments alone. If interested, you can also visit the Coptic Museum and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. 

The Hanging Church

Map depicting the journey of the Holy Family through Egypt

The ornately carved walls of the Hanging Church

Walking through Coptic Cairo

Al-Azhar Mosque – The mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Cairo and is a representative of the Islamic Cairo. Ornate minarets, beautiful doorways and sprawling prayer halls are some of the highlights of this spectacular building. Women need to be clad in a burqa(like I had to) or wear a hijab to gain entry into the mosque.

Central courtyard of the Al-Azhar mosque

Sprawling prayer halls

Women need to wear a burqa or hijab inside the mosque

Khan-el-Khalili Market – A shopper’s paradise, Khan-el-Khalili is the main tourist market in Cairo. You can pick up souvenirs and local artefacts here. However do note that you cannot be sure of the genuineness of some of the stuff like Papyrus paintings, Alabaster artefacts etc. These are best bought at the factories where your local guides will take you. Khan-el-Khalili is the best place to pick up lots of other things like Egyptian lamps, painted plates, fridge magnets etc. But you need to bargain shamelessly to get a reasonable price.

This is also the perfect place to experience the cafes which serve you Turkish coffee, local tea and local delicacies.

The vibrant colors of Khan-e-Khalili market

Egyptian lamps in abundance

Take a sip of Turkish coffee and some local tea

Cairo Trivia

• Unfinished houses are a common sight in Cairo. Our guide informed us that these houses are very much inhabited and it is only the exteriors of the houses that are unfinished. This is done for tax reasons. Completed houses are taxed at higher rates.
• Equally common are mosques in the city which are beautiful and significant in every sense.
• ?Like we have dogs all around us in India, you will find feline friends aka cats in abundance in Cairo, especially in the Khan-el-Khalili market
• Baksheesh or tips are a norm and you will be expected to tip even your local guides on a daily basis.
• Breads are a staple in whole of Egypt and you will find them in abundance.

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A bread shop

• Traffic in Cairo and the number of people around you can get a little overwhelming. 

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Cairo traffic