Seated gracefully on the East Bank of the Nile, the proud home of natural and man-made wonders is the tranquil, stunning city of Aswan.

This is where Egypt and the Valley of the Nile with its typically gentle landscape end and Nubia begins. It is called ‘the gate to Egypt as it lies at the southernmost point of the River Nile, before the Aswan High Dam was built In ancient times it was a large trading post for goods such as herbs ivory, gold, and wood coming from Egypt and Africa.

However, the floods have caused havoc throughout the ages, and in 1902 the first dam was built at the spot of the first cataract in Aswan. This dam helped but was not enough and another dam was built 7km to the south of the old one. Construction started in 1960 and was completed in 1971 and now we have the High Dam of Aswan which in turn created the largest manmade lake in the world,

Lake Nasser.

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Nowadays it is an ideal winter resort, with elegant hotels dotted along the Corniche with cruise boats and yachts moored for days at a time, so the tourist can enjoy this fascinating city with its ancient ruins and cultural life.

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When evening falls Aswan suddenly comes alive with a glowing mass of radiant light, with the hustle and bustle of the local traffic, the tooting of the horns, and the clippety clop of the horsedrawn carriages. The feluccas glide silently over the smooth waters of the Nile, dotting the river with their enormous white sails. No other place in Egypt has this magical atmosphere as here in Aswan.

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There are many interesting places to visit here, and as you wander down the narrow streets you will find souks and bazaars with an array of Nubian and Egyptian goods hanging from the stalls. Breathe in the smell of Africa with the aroma of saffron and mint and let your eyes feast on the brightly colored cotton and powders – memories that will stay with you forever.

 

The Unfinished Obelisk

 

Aswan is famous for its stone quarries, where in pharaonic times granite and stone was cut into huge pieces and transported down the Nile to Cairo& Luxor to use on the building of the ancient temples and pyramids.

Here you will find the Unfinished Obelisk dating back to the time of Queen Hatshepsut, where the stone has been left partially finished due to a large crack appearing down the middle of the stone, probably due to either poor quality stone of maybe even an earth tremor

 

Temple of Philae

In the middle of this fascinating landscape, you will find the Temple of Philae or ‘Pearl of Egypt’ as it is called. Originally built on the island of Philae the temple was relocated to the island of Agilkia, only 500 meters away, when the High Dam was built.

This temple is dedicated to the goddess of love and magic, Isis and according to my theology the heart of her husband Osiris was buried here after his body was cut up into pieces by his brother Seth. It is one of the three best-preserved temples in Egypt, the other two being Dendera and Edfu. These temples were built in the Ptolemaic times.

 

Kitcheners Island

On Kitcheners Island you will see the famous botanical gardens. The island was named after Lord Kitchener who served as the British Governor General of Egypt between 1911 to 1914. He fell in love with this island in the middle of the Nile and it was here that he played around with his passion for exotic flowers and plants. As you walk along the shady avenues of trees and flowers, breathe in the pungent fragrances of the Bouganvilleas, and Clematis Marvel at the enchanting colours and shades of the many types of fauna but keep your eyes open for the beautiful birds that enchant this undisturbed paradise.