Things you should know about Abu Simbel Temples
- They are two giant rock temples located at Abu Simbel village in the southwest of Aswan governorate, near the border with Sudan.
- The area is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- The twin temples of Abu Simbel were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the 19th dynasty reign of King Ramesses II.
- The temples were rediscovery in 1813 by the Swiss researcher Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
It was built with great architectural precision to withstand the highest levels of an earthquake, and if the temple was hit by a 10 Richter earthquake it will not affect it.
- This temple marks the battle of Kadesh, the most important battles that King Ramses II fought during his reign.
- The Temple of Abu Simbel is associated with the phenomenon of the sun perpendicular to the face of the statue of Pharaoh Ramses II twice a year; the first corresponds to his birthday on October 22 and the second on February 22 is the anniversary of his coronation.
- Aswan is the nearest Egyptian city to Abu Simbel it is about a three-hour drive away and there are many agencies that can arrange the trip for you but do not try to rent a car and drive there by yourself because you need a licensed tour company to pass security checkpoints.
- Abu Simbel has an airport and a few hotels and hostels but there is no 5* or luxurious accommodation in Abu Simbel
- Nile Cruise to Abu Simbel is available with some cruise lines such as Movenpick Prince Abbas Nile cruise which is sailing on Lake Nasser between Aswan and Abu Simbel, or you can book with https://nilecruisers.com/