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The Karnak Temple is considered the biggest religious temple from an ancient civilization that still stands until today. Due to this reason, the temple attracts millions of visitors per year. Following the Great Pyramids of Giza and Abu Simbel, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions across Egypt.
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The Karnak Temple is a massive temple. It was initially part of Thebes, the ancient capital of Egypt known today as Luxor. It is dedicated to the god Amun. However, Karnak was not dedicated soley to Amun, but also hosted worship services to the gods Mut and Koshu.
The complex houses smaller temples enshrined to Isis, Ptah and even a handful of powerful pharaohs including the legendary Ramses II.
The Karnak Temple continued to be enlarged by subsequent rulers. In fact, the construction of the massive monument took over two thousand years and it is believed that it was actually never completed.
The temple covers an area of 200 acres with 61 of them dedicated exclusively to Amun. Restoration efforts on the structure began in the 18th century and are still in progress until today.
The temple was built over a period of more than 2000 years from 2200 BC to about 360 BC. The construction of temple passed through the hands of numerous pharaohs, each leaving his own special mark such as commissioning statues of gods resembling their facial features.
It is located in Luxor in Upper Egypt, approximately 660km from Cairo. To get to Luxor you will have to travel by plane or train. Obviously taking a plane is quicker but also more expensive while going by train takes longer about 11 to 12 hours but more budget friendly.
Many travelers prefer to take the night train which allows you to arrive in Luxor in the morning and enjoy a full day of excursions.
The Karnak Temple is massive so it is easy to spend a full day wandering around the complex unraveling details and diving into the history of the various monuments on display for the world to see.
One of the main highlights is the great hypostyle salon. This hall spans an impressive 54 square meters and features 134 columns, each 23 meters high. It is a site that gives us an idea of how powerful the New Kingdom truly was.
Next one should visit the Granite Chapel, also known as the Red Chapel due to its pink granite. The chapel features three chambers, which each one dedicated to the gods of the house.
This chapel was actually commissioned by the famous Queen Hatshepsut. Next, pay a visit to the mighty Obelisk of Hatshepsut, which measures in at 27 meters high and weighs a whopping 340 tons, the largest in Egypt and the second largest globally.
Finally, we get to the sacred lake of the Karnak Temple. It was standard for temples in Ancient Egypt to feature a lake for purification purposes and sacrificial rituals. In addition, the lake was a symbol of the birth of Amun—the Sun God—every morning.
Visitors can visit the temple at night for the grand Sound & Lights Show.
Tourists visit the Karnak Temple all year round. During the summer (the months of June, July and August) temperatures can reach 45 degrees Celsius, making it particulary hot given the desert landscape. For cooler temperatures, the best time to visit Karnak is between September and April.
The Karnak Temple is huge and is located in a sandy, desert area, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing. A hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and a bottle of water are also good things to bring along.
We recommend you visit with a knowledgeable guide. The Temple of Karnak is massive and having an Egyptologists to help unpack the place is imperative.
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