Egypt is a land of mystery where the sands of time has preserved what the phaorahs built 3000 years ago.

With archaeological significance, ancient architectural beauty and a history that’s important to understanding the civilisation of the human race, Egypt doesn’t fail to fascinate travelers and visitors with its impossible feat of towering structures and statues.

Massive temples with colossal pharaohs, secret scriptures, mythical stories, the lives of Kings and queens and hidden chambers are scattered all across Egypt from Luxor to Aswan.

Ancient Egyptians didn’t build these temples in a whim and none of it is by accident. Every scripture, room and function had a meaning. Some are still waiting to be uncovered.

From the famous Abu Simbel to Karnak, these temples in Egypt has fascinated both historians and your regular traveler alike. So if you’re heading down to the land of the pharoahs, sail down the nile and visit these Egypt temples that’s bound to leave you in awe and make you experience what it feels like if you were in a movie with mummies and mysteries.

Abu Simbel – The Sunlight Phenomenon

Image: (Left) The entrance of Abu Simbel temple with statues of Ramses II Photo credit: Ameena Navab (Right) The eight statues of Ramses II in the osirian position inside Abu Simbel Photo Credit: AWO staff

The grandest temple built by Ramses II, Abu Simbel is famous for its four imposing colossal statues of the pharaoh sitting at the entrance and gazing at the vast expanse of the Nubian waters as if warning travelers and visitors, that the land from here on belongs to the Pharoah.

Abu Simbel is famous throughout the globe for its archaeological and historical aspect and it was made even more popular worldwide thanks to movies like The Mummy Returns and Death on the Nile. With an impossible feat of engineering done more than 3000 years ago, Abu Simbel remains as one of the best temples in Egypt and the world.

While its exterior is jaw dropping with its massive statues, the interior is just as magnificent with eight gigantic structures of Ramses II standing in the Osirian position. The hieroglyphic inside the temple tells tales of the Pharoah, his wars and victories and of his beloved wife – Nefertari.

The temple is also popular for the sun phenomenon that takes place twice every year in February and October which marks Ramses II’s birthday and coronation day.

Dendara Temple – The Best-Preserved Temple With Colors

The most unique temple in Egypt belongs to none other than the goddess Hathor. The Dendara temple, which is dedicated to Hathor (the goddess of love and motherhood) is both an archaeological gem and architectural marvel….and shrouded in mystery.

One of the features that makes Dendara temple so different from the rest is its pillars with the faces of Hathor at its crown. This is a very unusual feat as no other Egyptian temples dedicated to its deities have such designs. Dendara also has the vivid colors that were once painted onto the ceilings and walls still present thousands of years later. The blue and golden are striking visuals that give the place a much-added beauty.

But what really sets it apart is the mysterious hierglyohs that adorn the walls of the temple. Dendara is famous for having the much debated “light-bulb” hieroglyphics. These inscriptions show two figures sitting beside a shape that seemed to depict a lightbulb. Scholars have argued that they are flowers associated with creation and the womb of goddess Nut, hence it’s not ancient Egyptian technology. That said, none can completely deny whether ancient Egyptians did have technology that resembles ours in the modern world.

Another set of hieroglyphics that makes Dendara temple a worthwhile visit is its astrological symbols. The inscriptions at this temple features the famous Dendera Zodiac, a large bas-relief that is one of the earliest representations of the zodiac in Egypt. This zodiac has garnered attention for its detailed depiction of the constellations and its significance in understanding ancient Egyptian astronomy.

Edfu Temple – See the Real Solar Barque

Image: (Left) The entrance into the main hall of Edfu Temple with Horus depicted on the pylon walls Photo credit: Ameena Navab (Right) The statue of Horus in his falcon form while wearing the crown of Egypt Photo Credit: Ameena Navab

If you want to see the beauty of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics, then head onto the Edfu Temple, also known as the temple of Horus. Dedicated to Horus, the Ancient Egyptian flacon-headed god of air, Edfu Temple is awe-striking in its collection of the ancient Egyptian literature.

Some scholars say that this temple has recorded everything from how the language should be read and learned to the myth and legends of the Egyptian gods and goddesses, especially of Horus and his battle with the evil god, Seth.

Image: (Left) The solar barque of Horus in Edfu Temple’s inner chambers Photo credit: Ameena Navab (Right) Hieroglyphics that details the recipes used to create incense and perfumes in Edfu Temple’s offering room Photo Credit: AWO staff

The inner walkways of the temple’s peristyle halls has massive reliefs that’s etched on the towering walls, echoing the stories of the Pharaohs and their dieties. But what makes Edfu Temple special is the replica of the Sacred Barque of Horus that the Ancient Egyptians built. This barque of Horus sits in the temple’s inner chambers and was once believed to be the shrine that the falcon-headed god would rest in.

Another aspect of Edfu that makes it one of the must visit temples in Egypt is its offering room. This room, where items offered to the gods were kept, has hieroglyphics that details the recipes for incense and perfumes the Ancient Egyptians created.

The Temple of Philae – Take a Boat Ride to The Island Temple

A beautiful temple sitting amidst the waters of the Aswan Low Dam, Philae Temple was dedicated to Ancient Egyptian Goddess, Isis, the goddess of love.

The temple was featured in the famous movie The Mummy Returns and is just as, if not even more, breathtaking in real life. While Philae is dedicated to Isis, the hieroglyphics found in the temple also details Ancient Egypt’s important story of its main four gods – Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys.

The temple is also significant in the historic timeline that marked the near end of Ancient Egypt as the Romans invaded the place. The pillars of Philae Temple is different from those of more ancient and original Egyptian architectural designs. For example, the head of the pillars are constructed in a flower-shape which is a resemblance to roman designs. This is different from the pillars of Luxor and Karnak, which has the pillar heads more closed and truer to ancient Egypt.

That said, Philae is a beautiful temple that sits in the middle of the shimmering blue waters of Aswan Dam and a boat ride, usually operated by a true Nubian man, makes it an adventurous way to get there.

Luxor Temple – The Avenue of Sphinxes Connecting to Karnak

Image: (Left) Journalist Ameena Navab standing amidst the Avenue of Sphinxes at Luxor Temple Photo credit: AWO Staff (Right) The statues of Ramses II in the hypostyle hall of Luxor Temple Photo Credit: Ameena Navab

A magnificent temple sitting at the east bank of the River Nile, Luxor Temple was built by Amenhotep III which was then carried on by Tutankhamun and Ramses II. Travelers and visitors are beckoned by the six gigantic statues of Ramses II in the military, sitting and standing positions at the entrance. Even more such statues can be found in the inner halls of the temple.

What makes Luxor Temple unique is that, unlike the other temples of Thebes, this one wasn’t built for one specific pharaoh or god. While the deities Mut, Khonsu and Amun is worshipped here, the temple was mainly used as a place of coronations for pharaohs and where festivals of Ancient Egypt would be held.

To this extent, the Egyptians built the Avenue of Sphinxes (which was buried in the sands and restored in 2021), that connects the temples of Luxor to Karnak. This avenue, lined with over a thousand sphinxes of lion-heads and rams, was once walked by the people during various festivals.

Karnak Temple – The Largest Temple in The World

Image: (Left top) The statues of Ramses in the inner temple at Karnak Photo credit: Ameena Navab (Left bottom) The ceilings and pillars of the Great Hypostyle in Karnak with some of them still retaining its original colors Photo credit: Ameena Navab (Right) The gigantic pillars of the Hypostyle Hall in Karnak Photo Credit: Ameena Navab

A humungous ever-stretching temple that holds various smaller temples inside it, Karnak is the biggest temple complex in the world – and with good reason. Stretching for over 200 acres and consisting of gigantic pillars, a sacred lake, hundreds of statues and several dozen worshipping halls that could fit five Roman cathedrals in one corner, Karnak temple is a jaw-dropping site that shouldn’t be missed during your time in Egypt.

A collective achievement built by various pharaohs over a thousand years, Karnak temple has the markings of Ancient Egypt’s great pharaohs from Seti to Queen Hatshepsut. But what makes travelers flock to this place is the Great Hypostyle Hall. With over 130 sky-touching towering pillars that seemed to have been impossible to build at that time with a dozen of them even retaining some of the colors thanks to the Egyptians’ method of selective lighting, these pillars are the epitome of engineering of the Ancient Egyptians.

Karnak also has the same Avenue of Sphinxes that connects it to Luxor temple. These statues are ram-headed sphinxes believed to take after the deity, Khonsu.

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See All These Temples on Your First Visit to Egypt with Us

That’s right! It’s all possible. Planning your Egypt trip with us makes seeing all of Egypt’s temples on your very first visit to the country as easy as a breeze. Our expert team organizes your itinerary, ensuring you don’t miss iconic sites like the Karnak Temple in Luxor or the Abu Simbel temples in Aswan. Just drop us a message on atworldsorigins@gmail.com to book your incredible Egypt trip.