This one is the largest of the western oases and the most developed.
It lies in a natural desert depression. The main town and capital
of the oasis is El-Kharga town.
Monuments
Temple of Hibis:
The temple is few kilometers/miles north of El-Kharga town.
Construction of this building was started in the 6th century
BC by Persian Emperor Darius
I in dedication to Egyptian God Amun.
Egyptian King Nectanebo
II of the 30th
dynasty added the temple's colonnades.
The Egyptian government took plan to move the temple to a new
dry location 500 meters (1640 ft) north of its current site
after its condition was threatened by rising subterranean water.
The operation was described as the second largest operation
since the great salvage work of Nubian
monuments in the 1960s, but now the move is still weighed and
until a final decision is reached, the temple is officially
closed.
Al-Bagawat cemetery:
Image 1
This is one of the few remains of Egypt's Coptic era. These
are tombs of Coptic
Christians who lived here between 4-6th century AD.
The tombs have traditional Coptic-style domes and their interior
is decorated with biblical scenes. They are worth visiting,
and a caretaker would guide you in the cemeteries. Gratitude
is expected for him.
The cemetery is only few kilometers/miles from temple of Hibis.
Temple of Nadura:
It is a small temple built by Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius in
138 AD. The temple is now in ruins. It lies to the northeast
of the town.
Underground village:
These are remains of a 9th century Islamic village that was
built underground to protect inhabitants from the sun heat.
Some of the villages' buildings are still inhabited and villagers
would gladly show you around.
