Kharga Oasis is the capital of the New Valley Governorate. It lies 232 kilometers south of Assiut. The oasis has many monuments, springs, and tourist sites. It also has several cold and hot sulfur wells. Temperatures in these springs can reach 43°C.

History of the Kharga Oasis

Kharga Oasis is known as the Great Oasis. It fills a wide dip in the desert. Its capital is Hibis. Kharga Oasis was a stop on a desert caravan route. This route connected the Hyksos in Lower Egypt with the Kingdom of Nubia. The oasis served this purpose since the Thirteenth Dynasty (1786-1665 BC). The caravans consisted of about 1,000 donkeys. Camels did not arrive in Egypt until 1,000 years later.

An Egyptian-American archaeological project made a discovery on August 22, 2010. They found the remnants of the world’s earliest residential and administrative complex. This dwelling area was in the Umm Al-Mawajir region. It was near Jabal Ghuwaitah in the Kharga Oasis.

The Climate in Kharga Oasis

Kharga Oasis has a dry climate. Humidity levels rarely exceed 9.5% throughout the year. This makes it one of the world’s healthiest places for a winter visit.

Monuments of the Kharga Oasis

1. The Temple of Hibis

The Temple of Hibis is about a kilometer north of the city center. It is significant because it reflects the Ptolemaic, Persian, and Roman eras. Builders created it to worship the Holy Trinity (Amon-Mot-Khensu) during the Twenty-sixth Dynasty. An inscription on the front section is from King Nakhtenboatemple, around 350 BC.

A visitor approaches the temple from the east. First, they see the Holy Lake. Then, they see the marina. Finally, they reach the Roman gate. The gate has a Greek inscription from Emperor Ghelbareign in 69 AD. The ram’s path follows the gate to the Great Gate. It then leads to the main gate. The Holy of Holies is at the far end of the temple. It has its own set of inscriptions.

2. The Bajwat Cemetery

The Al-Bajwat cemetery is three kilometers north of Kharga. It lies behind the Temple of Hibis. It gets its name from its vaulted architectural style. The cemetery has notable graves. The “Escape” cemetery has paintings. They depict the exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt. They show the Pharaoh and his army following them. The “Peace” cemetery tells stories of Egypt’s Christian past.

3. El Labkha (The Ficus)

This site is about 13 kilometers north of Kharga. It has the ruins of a fortress, a temple, and mud-brick tombs. The area also has acacia and dom palm trees. A historic canal system is also there. The Romans used it to collect water and irrigate the area.

4. The Palaces of Nadura

This site sits one kilometer from the city of Kharga. It is on the eastern side of the Temple of Hibis. Its name, “Nadura,” means “Overseer.” It served as a control center during the Ottoman and Mamluk periods.

5. Mustafa Al-Kashef Palace

This palace is behind the Bajwat cemetery. It is built on the foundations of a Roman fort. It is a massive structure. The oldest section of it is on the western side.

6. Al Ghuwaita Temple

This temple is 21 kilometers south of Kharga. Builders constructed it during the Twenty-seventh Dynasty. They built it for the adoration of the Holy Trinity (Amon – Mut – Khonsu). Inscriptions on the southern side of the temple depict Ptolemy. He wears the crown of Upper Egypt. On the northern side, he wears the crown of Lower Egypt. The Holy of Holies marks the end of the temple. Vault-shaped cottages were built next to it. Ptolemy III, IV, and X completed the building.

7. Douch Temples in Paris Oasis of Kharga

This temple is 23 kilometers from Paris village in the desert. Builders created it to honor the Roman deity Saber Apis and the goddess Uzes. It dates from the reign of the Roman emperors. Depictions of the emperor giving gifts to the gods are on its walls.

8. The Temple of Al-Zayan

This temple is 25 kilometers south of Kharga. It is south of Al-Ghuwaitah Palace. The temple was for the religion of Amun Hebet. It was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty. The inscriptions show the king presenting a statue of Maat and the deity Amun. Amun has the head of a ram. The monastery is one of the old fortifications. The Romans established it to guard the caravan route at Darb Al-Arbaeen. It is about 30 kilometers north of Kharga.

Antiquities Museum in Kharga

The Antiquities Museum in Kharga Oasis houses many ancient artifacts. It has Pharaonic paintings. They were discovered in tiles in the area of the Dabba Castles. There is a statue of the god Horus. A statue of a crouching lion with a human face is also there. They were found in the Deir El-Hajar temple. A group of Coptic-era pottery is also on display. Some pieces were found in the Mut area in Dakhla.

The Old Kharga

Residents began to abandon their ancient homes. They replaced them with bigger, more enduring structures. This happened when concrete became available. The historic homes are mud-brick structures. They have small, twisting alleyways. These alleyways are roofed with dom-wood and palms. Each street has a gate. People locked the gates when Bedouins attacked.