Kawm Umbu Travel Guide

 
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  • Kom Ombo - Temple of Horus and Sobek
      Kom Ombo - Temple of Horus and Sobek
    by Kuznetsov_Sergey

Explore Kawm Umbu

Things to Do  

Hathor Chapel and Crocodile

Hathor Chapel and Crocodile, Kawm Umbu

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  To the right side of the Temple there is a small room, which firstly was built and dedicated to goddess Hathor. Now it is used to display mummified crocodiles, which were found in the vicinity of the Temple. A few of the three-hundred crocodile mummies discovered in the... 

Ancient Calendar

Ancient Calendar, Kawm Umbu

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  One of the most interesting things is the long list of calendars telling us about the various festivals dedicated to various gods.You may see Outer Wall of Kom-Ombo on my 3 min 05 sec Kom Ombo Outer Wall VIDEO clip 

Medicine Instruments

Medicine Instruments, Kawm Umbu

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  The left side of the Temple is dedicated Horus who was also known as the good doctor. The Temple became famous for its healing power. It was a major pilgrimage site here a healing cult was developed and the temple was a sanctuary for many patients who were seeking help and... 

Second Hypostyle Hall

Second Hypostyle Hall, Kawm Umbu

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  The rear wall leads to the Second Hypostyle Hall that leads to twin entrances and has 15 columns. Five of them are incorporated in the front wall. This section shows Ptolemy VII holding hymnal texts before the Nile gods.The Second Hypostyle Hall repeats the design of the... 

Hypostyle Hall of Ptolemy XII

Hypostyle Hall of Ptolemy XII, Kawm Umbu

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  The First Hypostyle Hall has papyrus capitals on the columns. There is an inventory of the scared places of Egypt, the gods of the main towns and the local and national festivals.Overall, the relief sculpture is typical of the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, with very deeply... 

Entrance and Courtyard of Augustus

Entrance and Courtyard of Augustus, Kawm Umbu

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  The entrance into the Temple is located to the Easter side. There is an ancient Gate built by Neos Dionysus (Ptolemy XIII). Then you will see Mud brick Enclosure Wall and the Birth House of Ptolemy VII (Mammissi). The Birth House is the nearest building to the river. Its... 

Temple of Kom Ombo

Temple of Kom Ombo, Kawm Umbu

 misr Says:  This temple is just beside the river Nile. Kom Ombo is the temple of two gods, Haroeris and Sobek. There are three mummified crocodiles on the place too.Entrance fee to the temple was in march 2006, 20 L.E (Egyptian pound) 

Restaurants  

Sobek Boat Restaurant: Meal in Cruise
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Sobek Boat Restaurant
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Meal at the restaurant of the boat seemed to me delicious enough. Meal seemed also diverse enough first days. Probably by the third day of the cruise, having been satiated with this meal, it would be desirable already something another.

The cost of meal was included into the cost of the cruise. Therefore I do not know, how much our breakfasts, dinners and suppers cost. I paid only for beer (20LE = $ 4), fresh juice (9LE = $ 2) and tea (7LE = $ 1,5). The payment occurred only once - in the end of the cruise.

You may see cruise boat restaurant on my 44 sec Cruise boat restaurant VIDEO clip

Updated Aug 31, 2007

Related to:
 Cruise

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Nightlife  

Cruise boat night dancing: Overfilled with excursions
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Cruise boat night dancing
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When Nubian performance came to its end the tourists went on their own performance with dancing, singing and making joy until forces left us…

You may see our dancing at the cruise boat on my 1 min 43 sec Cruise Boat Dancing VIDEO clip

Written Sep 1, 2007

Related to:
 Cruise
 Romantic Travel and Honeymoons
 Festivals

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Transportation  

Jitney Service from Aswan

Jitney Service from Aswan, Kawm Umbu

 atufft Says:  Minivans parked at the jitney service stop in Aswan depart regularly toward all destinations between Aswan and Luxor. Prices are very cheap. If in transit to Luxor with luggage, be prepared to have your stuff hoisted aggressively atop and strapped down. There is no room for... 

Cruise boat

Cruise boat, Kawm Umbu

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  Kom-Ombo is located about 65 kilometres south of Edfu and 45 kilometres north of Aswan. Tourists usually get there by cruise boats on their way from Luxor to Aswan or on the contrary from Aswan to Luxor. We reached Kom-Ombo in the evening after a day floating from Edfu.... 

Shopping  

Sobek Boat Souvenir Shop: Shopping in cruise

Sobek Boat Souvenir Shop: Shopping in cruise, Kawm Umbu

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  A small shop is available on the boat. Here it is possible to buy souvenirs, national Egyptian clothes, and jewelry. I have bought for a night-party a Nubian suit consisted of three subjects: a long shirt, a jacket and a turban. It costed only 60LE (12 dollars). You may see... 

Local Customs  

Night Nubian performance
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Cruise boat - Night Nubian performance
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According to tradition the team of the boat makes an amateur performance for tourists. Sailors and attendants of the boat were basically Nubians. Therefore we have seen Nubian dances and have heard Nubian songs.

Some tourists have put on Nubian suits (including me on the fifth pic) that it was better correspond to the atmosphere of this holiday. We were singing Nubian songs together – it was perfectly fine!

You may see the Night-show on my 6 min 17 sec Cruise Boat Night-show VIDEO clip

Written Aug 31, 2007

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Warnings and Dangers  

Don't miss the boat! Or slip!

Don't miss the boat!  Or slip!, Kawm Umbu

 sue_stone Says:  When our ship pulled into Kom Ombo, we docked up against several other similar cruise boats. We then had to walk through the reception area of each boat to get to shore. This was the easy bit.Once on shore - the sandy banks of the Nile - we had to clamber up the steep river... 

Tourist Traps  

Crowds of tourists
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Kom Ombo - Crowds of tourists
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An unpleasant tourist trap of Kom Ombo (as in almost every Egyptian sight) were huge crowds of tourists which simultaneously were in the Temple. Though the operating time of the Temple is since early morning till the evening I've got an impression, that all tourists who this day intended to examine the Temple appeared there simultaneously just when we came.

We had to wait for 2-5 minutes before getting an opportunity to watch ancient medicine instruments and calendar paintings. Guide’s explanations on different languages were hearing from everywhere. But - nothing to do!

Written Aug 31, 2007

Related to:
 Architecture
 Archeology
 Historical Travel

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Off The Beaten Path  

Sunset over the Nile

Sunset over the Nile, Kawm Umbu

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  Dawns and sunsets over the Nile made huge impression on me. We have arrived in Kom Ombo just before sunset. It was necessary to hurry up to the Temple to have time to photograph it before it was coming dark. However the huge sphere of the sun gradually falling waters of the... 

Behind the official roads

Behind the official roads, Kawm Umbu

 Luchonda Says:  I drove back from Aswan to Luxor by a private taxi. I was surprised to see that behind the official touristic road (nile cruise and the famous temple) there is some kind of local heavy industry - sugar production. 

Favorites  

Museum and useful links

Museum and useful links, Kawm Umbu

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  Open hours 9.00 – 21.00.Entrance fee 25LE ($5).Video and photo are allowed.Second pic - Map of the Temple.Third pic - The Temple in the beginning of the XXth century (old photo).Forth pic - The Temple in Kom Ombo - David Roberts drawing (1839)Useful links:From touregypt.com... 

Temple History background

Temple History background, Kawm Umbu

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  It is considered that Ptolemy VI Philometor started the construction. The emperor Neo Dionysus (Ptolemy XIII) finished the most of buildings. He was known as the father of famous Cleopatra. He built the Outer and Inner Hypostyle Halls. The emperor Augustus finished the whole... 

Temple of Horus and Sobek name background

Temple of Horus and Sobek name background, Kawm Umbu

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  The Temple is situated on the east bank of the Nile. It was built on a high dune overlooking the Nile. The Temple actually consists of two temples – the Temple to Sobek and the Temple of Horus, because it was dedicated two Egyptian gods - Horus and Sobek. They say sacred... 

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Map of Kawm Umbu