Ismailia is named after KhediveIsmail,
a 19th century ruler of Egypt. This was originally a village
called Al-Temsah (The Crocodile) and was rebuilt by Khedive
Ismail who planned to build cities along the Suez
Canal.
Ismailia sits on Lake Timsah, one of three lakes included in
the canal's path.
Monuments
Ismailia has a museum displaying artifacts that date back
to ancient Egypt and an adjacent Garden of Stelae
which has sphinxes
from the time of King Ramesses
II. A permission to visit the garden is obtained from the
museum.
You can also visit the house of Ferdinand
de Lesseps, first director of the Suez Canal company, but
a permission is sometimes required from the Suez Canal Authority.
Ismailia has some resort clubs by the coast of Al-Timsah lake
ideal for swimming. Some further activities include water skiing,
windsurfing and sailing.
