Luxor is a city in the south of Egypt with a last know population of 377 thousand people. The city is an area of 161 square miles. Luxor is a very popular travel destination in southern Egypt and the Nile Valley. It is known as the world’s greatest open air museum as it holds so many treasures of ancient times. The city lies on the banks of the Nile River.
Luxor was once the ancient city of Thebes. It was the glorious city of the God AmonRa. In the 11th Dynasty the town grew into a thriving city. It became a center of high luxury, wisdom, art, religious and political supremacy. Later it rose to the major political, religious and military capital of Ancient Egypt. After it had been attacked by an Assyrian emperor the city of Thebes fell in significance and ruins. It did remain a sight of spirituality.
The city of Luxor is a relatively small town for Egyptian standards. The center on the East Bank holds restaurants, hotels and shops. Within this modern city stand the ruins of the temple complexes of Luxor, built by Armenhotep III, and Karnak. The Luxor Temple is a beautiful complex with four pillared courts and hypo style halls and holds some colossal statues of Ramses II. Most of the ruins and tombs of ancient Egypt are located on the West Bank of the Nile River. Here tourists can find The Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the Tombs of the Noble.
Travelers to Luxor require a valid passport and visa. A 30 days visa can be obtained upon arrival for $15 US. Most tourists stay on the East Bank and travel to the West Bank to visit the tourist sites. In recent years there have been built hotels on the West Bank where many independent travels find their place to sleep.
