East Bank of Luxor
Despite the presence of an increasing number of visitors, the East Bank of Luxor remains a lively provincial metropolis.
However, the new governor seemed to be more concerned with the requirements of tourists than inhabitants and, at the time of writing, was causing quite a stir with his attempts to clean up the town center.
Sharia al-Mahatta currently has a little Parisian feel; the souq is clean and partially covered, and structures are being removed near the Luxor and Karnak temples.
His next ambition is to clear the 3km-long corridor of the sphinxes between the two temples, demolishing various historical, but not ancient, structures along the route, notably the French House near Karnak Temple.
When planning a trip to Egypt, it is common to practice for many travel guides, as well as countless websites devoted to travel-related topics, to place a significant amount of importance on making a trip to Luxor West Bank.
The West Bank of Luxor is home to several well-known historical sites, including the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, both of which can be found on this side of the river.
Nevertheless, you don’t want to let yourself be fooled into thinking that the best historic sites are only located on the West Bank of Luxor because that would be a huge mistake.
We’ll just say you’re missing out if you don’t explore Luxor East Bank.
East Bank of Luxor Facts
When the heat is not unbearable, the city center, which is densely packed with hotels, bars, and restaurants, is easily walkable.
Luxor Temple, an attractive architectural marvel, and its courtyards and sanctuaries devoted to the Theban triad lie at its center.
Rather than beginning here, it is best to see the awe-inspiring temple complex of Karnak first thing in the morning.
For over 1500 years, pharaohs competed for the gods’ attention by outdoing each other’s architectural exploits. Luxor Temple may be visited at a later date.
Two superb museums complement the monuments. The Luxor Museum has an intriguing collection of items uncovered in this antiquity-rich location.
At the same time, the Mummification Museum exhibits animal and human mummies and explains in detail how the ancient Egyptians accomplished the embalming technique.
Attractions on the East Bank of Luxor
1- Karnak Temple
Karnak is a remarkable complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons, and obelisks devoted to the Theban gods and the greater glory of pharaohs.
Everything is massive: the site encompasses over 2 square kilometers, which is big enough to house roughly ten cathedrals, and its primary edifice, the Temple of Amun, is the largest religious structure ever created.
2- The Luxor Temple
This temple, constructed mainly by the pharaohs Amenhotep III (1380–1352 BC) and Ramses II (1279–1213 BC), is a breathtakingly elegant landmark in the center of the current town.
Visit during the day, possibly in the late afternoon, but return at night when the temple is illuminated, producing an unsettling sight as shadow and light interact with the reliefs and colonnades.
3- The Luxor Museum
This fantastic museum offers a wonderfully presented collection dating from the end of the Old Kingdom to the Mamluk era, mostly from Theban temples and necropolis.
4- Museum of Mummification
The modest Mummification Museum, located on Luxor’s Corniche, near the Mina Palace Hotel, offers well-presented displays illustrating the art of mummification. A well-preserved mummy of a 21st-dynasty high priest of Amun, Maserharti, and a slew of mummified animals are on show.
The instruments and materials used in the mummification process are shown in vitrines, such as the little spoon and metal spatula used to scrape the brain out of the skull. Several objects important to the mummy’s passage to the afterlife have also been included, as have several beautiful painted coffins.
A magnificent small figure of the jackal deity, Anubis, the god of embalming who assisted Isis in turning her brother-husband Osiris into the first mummy, presides over the entryway.
Explore Luxor by Easy Tours Egypt
