Abu Simbel
The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari, to commemorate his alleged victory at the Battle of Kadesh, and to intimidate his Nubian neighbors. However, the complex was relocated in its entirety in the 1960s, on an artificial hill made from a domed structure, high above the Aswan dam reservoir.
The relocation of the temples was necessary to avoid being submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser, the massive artificial water reservoir formed after the building of the Aswan dam on the Nile River. Abu Simbel remains one of Egypt's top tourist attractions(wikipedia).
You could reach Abu Simbel either by plane or by boat, i think there is a cruise line ship that offers a stop over here. Witnessing the place gives you the mix feelings of excitement, contentment, achievement, or any adjective words that you could think of. The workmanship that took place thousand years of ago was still standing. I am still very amaze of how they moved this giant structure and had left me wondering if something got left behind from where it was originally standing before, knowing how the ancient egyptians mind are, they always have secret chambers or passages, like the ones in the Valley of the Kings, but no one knows for sure and this what makes Egypt exciting.
I would definitely endorse to anyone who is visiting Egypt to take a stop at this place.
You could not take any pictures inside Abu Simbel, but no worries because there is always someone who is going to approach you and ask if you want to take a picture or take a private tour of the place, there is one area that is still close for the public that requires renovation but you don't need to pay that much with the guard, you just need to give them a dollar tip.
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