Khan al-KhaliliBuzzing with the activities of buying and selling,
Khan al-Khalili is one of the largest markets in the world. It is
situated within Islamic Cairo, a World Heritage Site that attracts
travellers and locals alike. This is the best place to soak up the
colour of Cairo and to people-watch. Traders have been bargaining
in these alleys since the 14th century and it is possible to buy
almost anything, from exotic perfume bottles to everyday Arabic
clothing. On the northern corner of the bazaar is the Mosque of
Sayyidna al-Hussein, one of the holiest Islamic sites in
Egypt.Egyptian Museum of AntiquitiesWith over 100,000 artefacts in 107 halls, the Egyptian
Museum provides days of exploration. Inside are treasures from
ancient Egypt, including priceless finery taken from ancient royal
tombs, and one of the museum's masterpieces, the statue of Khafre
(Chephren). The most popular attraction is the Tutankhamun Gallery
where exquisite treasures from the tomb of the Boy King are
displayed, including the famous solid gold death mask. Another top
attraction is the Royal Mummy Room containing mummies of some of
the most powerful Pharaohs in Egypt dating from the 18th to the
20th Dynasties.Pyramids of GizaThe pyramids are the earth's oldest tourist attraction
and the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is the only remainder of
the seven ancient wonders of the world. Throughout their history,
they have fired human imagination, with much speculation as to
their origin and purpose, but most evidence supports the theory
that they were built by the ancient civilisation as tombs or great
monuments in which to bury their kings and nobles, a place to start
their mystic journey to the afterlife. The oldest and largest
pyramid, the Great Pyramid, is thought to have taken 20 years to
build and is made of about two million blocks of limestone. No one
knows how the two-ton blocks were moved into place, but it was
known to be the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 40
centuries. The Sphinx, known as the Abu al-Hol (Father of Terror),
stands in front of the Great Pyramid and is thought to be older
than the pyramids themselves.Old CairoThe small and enclosed area, also known as Coptic
Cairo, is the oldest part of the city and was once known as the
Roman stronghold of Babylon; some of the old walls still exist. It
is the ancient heart of the Coptic Christian community and although
only five of the original 20 churches remain they are interesting
to visit, along with the first mosque built in Egypt and the oldest
synagogue, a representation of three of the major religions of the
modern world. It is a peaceful place to wander around and a respite
from the busy city centre. Churches of interest are the Al-Muallaqa
(Hanging Church), the oldest Christian place of worship in the
city, and St Sergius where the Holy Family reputedly sheltered
during their flight to Egypt.Western Desert OasesFrom Cairo it is possible to experience Egypt's finest
journey on offer, the Great Desert Circuit. It runs for over 621
miles (1,000km) through spectacular desert landscape and is
punctuated by four oases situated in a depression: Bahariya,
Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga. The first two have hot springs and palm
groves, Farafra being the more traditional and rural of the two. To
experience the remoteness of the desert travellers can spend an
unforgettable night in the White Desert between oases. Dakhla and
Kharga are surrounded by old ruins and villages from the times of
the ancient caravan routes to Sudan.Coptic Church of St. George (Mari Girgis)One of the few round churches still in existence in
the East, the Greek Church of St. George features a long set of
steps that lead up to the church where visitors will find a relief
of St. George and the dragon wrapped around the outer brickwork of
the tower. For centuries, the church alternated between Copt and
Greek ownership, but since the 15th century it has remained Greek
Orthodox, and the adjoining monastery of St. George is now the seat
of the Greek patriarch. The St George Church is most famous for its
beautiful wedding hall, (Qaat el Irsan) which dates back to the
14th century.Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, Sitt Mariam, St Mary)The Hanging Church derives its name from its location
on top of the southern tower gate of the old Babylon fortress with
its nave suspended over a passage. It's the most famous Coptic
Church in Cairo with the earliest mention of the church being a
statement in the biography of the patriarch Joseph (831AD - 849AD).
It went on to become known to travellers as the 'staircase church'
during the 14th and 15th centuries, because of the twenty-nine
steps that lead to the entrance. The visual impact of the church's
elevated position has been reduced due to the rise of land surface
by around 20ft (6metres) since the Roman period. The Roman tower
remains mostly buried below ground.Asfour Crystal FactoryThe Egyptians were the first people to develop the art
technology of manufacturing glass and cutting it into beautiful
shapes and began doing this 5,000 years ago. Established in 1961
and located in Shobra, the Asfour Crystal Factory Showroom is the
largest crystal factory in Egypt and provides crystals to many
countries across the globe. Products range from jewellery, 3D laser
gifts, figurines and a selection of chandeliers and other light
fittings. The jewellery is not of the same standard as Swarovski
crystal. But some lovely pieces can be picked up at an affordable
price.Saladin Citadel (Al-Qalaa)This massive stone fortress set in a beautiful
tropical location with magnificent views, was built by Salah ad-Din
in the 12th century. Visitors have the freedom to roam the castle,
which remains in pristine condition, including the execution room.
Two other mosques are located at the Citadel, the 13th/14th century
Mosque of al-Nasir Muhammad and the 16th century Mosque of Suleyman
Pasha. The Al-Gawhara Palace, National Military Museum and Police
Museum can also be found inside the Citadel.Ramses II StatueDiscovered in 1882 during excavations, the statue of
Pharaoh Ramses II was cut into six pieces in the 1950s and moved to
Ramses Square in central Cairo where it stood for a further 50
years. In 2006 the statue moved to a new home near the Pyramids and
the Museum of Antiquities, as there were growing concerns that
heavy pollution was damaging the 3,200-year-old statue, which
weighs 83 ton and stands 36 feet (11 metres) high. Ramses II, who
ruled Egypt for more than 60 years during the 19th dynasty of
pharaohs, was one of ancient Egypt's most prolific
builders.
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Flight Shops in India
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Phoenix Market City Mall,
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Kurla (West), Mumbai -400 070 Mumbai
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