El Kharga Oasis

El Kharga Oasis. The Kharga Oasis is known as the Great Oasis, as at one time it used to occupy a large depression in the Desert, and it’s Capital is Hibis whose name is depicted from the word Hebat which translates into Plow. The Temple of Hibis is located approx.. one Kilometer North of the City of Kharga, and the Temple is of special importance as it represents the various Historical Eras of Pharaonic, Persian Ptolemaic and Roman, it’s History dates back to the Pharaonic period the twenty sixth Dynasty, and was constructed to Worship the Holy Trinity, which was Amun=Mut-Khensu. The Bajwat Cemetery is located in the North of the City of Kharga and occupies the Southern Slopes of Jabal al-Tair. Through the different discoveries of the surrounding Area, it consists of two hundred and sixty three Shrines of varied and distinctive archetctual Styles, a group of which clearly shows the Artist’s skills in depicting a collection of Bible Topics on the ceilings. Also included within the Shrines is a Church which is the second Oldest Basilica Church in Egypt. The road which bends out into the Western Desert from Cairo reconnects with the Nile Valley at Luxor. In the middle it passes through four Oases. The first of these which lies closest to Cairo. Is Bahariyya which is more well known, and more regularly visited by Tourists, who use it as a starting point for Desert Safaris. The other three Oases are hardly ever visited by the Tourists, although there are some very interesting ruins and lovely scenery, and the special Oasis Culture to offer the more adventurious travelers. Kharga Oasis lies furtherest to the South, plus it is also the largest of four Oases along the Highway which connects them. There have been substantial Land reclamation projects which have been undertaken here, which has destroyed the Kharga Depression of some of it’s natural beauty however the Area does offer the most extensive archeological remains in any of the Oases. Within the Capital of El – Kharga, actually the Capital of the entire New Desert Region, which incorporates all four Oases, there are Hotels you can stay in. Also located here is the Archeological Museum with a collection of Artifacts from the Area dating back to pre-History, within and around the Town is a collection of Ruins from the late Pharaonic period onward, which includes the Sixth Century BC Temple of Hibis and the Roman Fortress – Temple of An – Nadura. The most imposing of the Roman Era ruins in the area is Qasr Al – Dush., located near the Town of Baris, it was the Gateway into Egypt for the Desert Caravans which were heading North and there is also a well preserved Temple of Osiris within it’s Walls from the First Century AD.