5 Important Things That Can Make Your Cruise Down the Nile Incredible
We all know that the Nile River of Egypt is the longest in the world and is no less than a blessing to the people of Egypt. But, now, after the reopening of the country for tourism, it is turning into a blessing for the travelers as they are seizing the opportunity to visit Egypt’s famous tombs and temples while they are not crowded as they used to be.
The Nile River holds a very important significance in the history and mythology of Egypt. It is considered as a life-giver entity which seems justified because the river makes the nearby land extremely fertile for the crops to grow. The Nile River valley looks like a lotus from the sky which is an ancient Egyptian symbol for the regeneration of life.
Taking a cruise down the Nile River is not new to this world. From ancient times, the people of Egypt and travelers from other countries used to do it all the time. Cruising down the Nile is a bag full of mixed experiences. One moment you might be admiring the calm, serene beauty of Nile and at the very next moment, you might see a guy testing the speed limits of his speedboat.
Here are the 5 Important things in Egypt that can make your cruise down the Nile incredible.
Cruising down the Nile is not there in any travel itinerary to Egypt, but it would be worth spending a little extra on this out-of-the-world experience. Check out the major attractions you can visit while enjoying a boat ride on the river Nile.
1. Pyramids of Giza
The first one in every list to Egypt should be the majestic Pyramids of Giza. Erected to honor the ancient Pharaohs, these architectural marvels are the proud possession of the Egypt Tourism Department. These tombs to the great Pharaohs are situated just across the Nile River. Anyone can spot the iconic structure of the pyramids from their cruise.
The view of these pyramids from the Nile is a sight to behold. The pyramids have a Sphynx to guard them and many small pyramids around them that were created in different eras. Whether you are an archaeologist, historian, or just a traveler, you will fall in love with these man-made wonders on Earth.
2. Karnak Temple
Almost all of the cruises start from Luxor and the first stop and sightseeing will be the Temple of Karnak. The jungle of carved pillars, obelisks, and walls is a must-visit place in Egypt. The size of this ancient temple leaves everyone in awe as it is the largest religious structure ever built.
The natural things around the ancient Egyptian artists greatly influenced them. You can see many examples of natural symbolism carved in the buildings and old architectures spread all over the country.
The Karnak Temple is one such example as the tall pillars of the temple resemble the palm trees, the floor is a symbol of the Nile River, the pylons represent the mountains, and the ceiling represents the sky full of stars.
3. Luxor Temple
Another majestic sight that comes along the way in your Nile River cruise is the Temple of Luxor. The temple sits right in the middle of the city of Luxor. The temple was made to honor the three Theban gods, Amun-Ra who represents the Sun, Mut who is Amun’s consort and the Mother Goddess, and Khonsu who represents the Moon.
The temple can be viewed from the east bank of the Nile. The temple is arguably the largest open-air museum. It is a well-preserved site and many carved statues inside the temple are still intact. The expert travelers suggest that this temple should be explored in the evening.
4. Museum of Egyptian Antiques
This Victorian-era museum on Tahrir square has been a part of all the tour packages to Egypt. The museum houses the greatest collection of Egyptian artifacts, documents, and ancient mummies. It is the only place where you can see the artifacts from the tomb of King Tut, mummified bodies of the great ancient Pharaohs including Seti I and Ramesses II.
A guide would help you identify the artifacts and mummies as there is nothing in English at the museum. The recent additions to the museum are the mummies of Yuya and Thuya, the great-grandparents of King Tut.