What is the exact location of Abu Simbel?

Abu Simbel temples are located in the southwestern part of Egypt, close to the border with Sudan, specifically on the west bank of Lake Nasser.

Is Abu Simbel in Egypt or Sudan?

Abu Simbel is located in Egypt, not Sudan. It is situated on the western shore of Lake Nasser , near the border between the two countries. However, its proximity to Sudan means it is often visited by tourists exploring northern Sudan sites.

How far is Abu Simbel from Cairo?

Abu Simbel is located approximately 1,136 kilometers (706 miles) south of Cairo, the capital city of Egypt.

Can I visit Abu Simbel on a day trip from Aswan?

The answer is yes. You can get there by bus, car, or aeroplane. Driving will take approximately 4 hours. or you can fly. Directly from Aswan, the nearest airport is Aswan International Airport.

How can I find Abu Simbel on a map?

The Location of Abu Simbel on a map, follow these steps: Open a web browser and search for a mapping service, such as Google Maps, Bing Maps, or Apple Maps. Enter "Abu Simbel" into the search bar and press enter or click the magnifying glass icon to initiate the search. Look for the red pin or marker indicating the location of Abu Simbel. Click or tap on the marker for additional information, including photos, reviews, and contact details. Use the zoom function (- and + buttons or scroll wheel) to adjust the level of detail and view surrounding areas, such as nearby towns, roads, and attractions. Alternatively, you can use physical maps available at bookstores, libraries, or travel shops. Look up "Egypt" in the index section and navigate to the page containing Abu Simbel and its vicinity. Remember to consult multiple sources for accurate and updated information.

Is Abu Simbel in a city or town?

No, Abu Simbel is not located within a city or town. Instead, it is found in a remote area along the shores of Lake Nasser, about 280 kilometers (175 miles) southwest of Aswan and very close to the border with Sudan.

Is Abu Simbel worth visiting?

Without a doubt, the Abu Simbel temples are one of the most impressive archaeological wonders in the world

The Location Of Abu Simbel Temple

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Abu Simbel Temple: The Wonder of Ancient Engineering and Artistry

Abu Simbel Temple is one of the wonders of Egypt, dating back thousands of years. Furthermore, the location of Abu Simbel played a vital role in the ancient trading routes. This tremendous architectural wonder was built on the west bank of the Nile River. Abu Simbel Temple is live proof of the Ancient Egyptian Kingdom’s true identity and how they were so professional in their work. Ramses II was the one who built the Abu Simbel, and he was also known as Ramses the Great. The temple consists of two temples. Furthermore, the temples were built to honour the gods Ptah, Amun-Ra, and Re-Horakhte and celebrate Ramesses’ victory at the Battle of Qadesh.

Photography of Abu Simbel temple in Night Time

1. Location of Abu Simbel

Where is Abu Simbel located? The temple is located alongside the western bank of Lake Nasser in Southern Egypt and is close to the Sudanese border. Furthermore, the Location of Abu Simbel offered a chance to understand ancient Egyptian history and culture. Its location is near the Nile River, which provides an excellent opportunity for trading routes. The central region where the temple is located is Nubia, which covers southern Egypt and northern Sudan.

2. Location of Abu Simbel on The Map

The location of Abu Simbel has always had great historical and cultural value through time. Moreover, Abu Simbel Nubia isn’t far from the Nubia region, and the Nubia extends from the first Cataract of the Nile near Aswan to Khartoum. The most exact location of Abu Simbel is along the western shore of Lake Nasser, 280 kilometers (174 miles) southwest of Aswan.

How to get to Abu Simbel? There are several options available to reach Abu Simbel. You can choose your preferred way, and you can choose flying or a road trip. Each route has its advantages. If you choose road trips, you will have the opportunity to see the beautiful Egyptian countryside. In addition, this trip will take around 2.5 to 3 hours. Alternatively, if you choose to fly, you must know that the nearest airport to Abu Simbel is Aswan International Airport, which will allow for faster transit times.

map of Egypt with capital Cairo, important cities and islands.

3. Historical Construction and Design of Abu Simbel

During (circa 1550–1077 BC), Egypt was known as Egypt’s New Kingdom. Moreover, Egypt at this time reached an unprecedented level of everything. Such as wealth, Military force, and expansion of its territories were all under influential pharaohs like Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, Tutankhamun, and Ramesses II. Ramesses II built this temple to increase his power, gain long-term admiration, and praise himself and the gods during their time. In addition, he convinces the whole world that he is a genuinely worthy ruler.

The design of the Abu Simble was so innovative and based on astronomical knowledge. Moreover, the temple consists of two temples: the Main Temple, the larger one, and the Second Temple, the smaller one. The Main Temple faces the east so that the Sun penetrates the inner room twice annually on October 22 and February 22. When the Sun penetrates the room, it illuminates the faces of the four deities except for the god Ptah, considered the god of the darkness.

The Second Temple, or the Smaller Temple, was built for Queen Nefertari. Inside the temple, there are a lot of pictures that describe the equality and good treatment of women. Moreover, the smaller temple is more beautiful as it honours Ramesses II’s queen, Nefertari. Additionally, the two temples have two giant statues of the queen, which welcome visitors. And some images of the Nefertari and Ramesses which express the love between them.

2 pharaoh. Abu simbel, Egypt

4. An Overview of The Ramses II’s Life

Ramses The Great is what he was often called. Such a great title did not come from nowhere, But it was a documentation of the events that took place during his reign and have not been forgotten until now. Moreover, Ramses II is the son of King Seti I and Queen Tuya. He married Queen Nefertari, and by the way, she was a great Queen. She helped him in his battles and supported him constantly and against all odds. After Queen Nefertari died, Ramses II married Queen Isetnofret; she wasn’t less loyal than Nefertari.

Such a great king should have had outstanding offspring and children who held his great throne. But unfortunately, only a few were stated and remembered. The number that was said is that he might have around 162 kids: Amun-her-khepeshef, Ramesses, Merneptah, Meritamen, Nebettawy, and Khaemweset. Despite this significant number of children around, a few of them have made their legacy as their father, the King Merneptah, and Ramesses stood out of the shadow. King Merneptah ruled Egypt for almost ten years, and his reign was full of successes.

Ramses II: The Commander of the Egyptian Army in his 25th

Ramses II’s achievements can’t be forgotten. In 1279 BC, Ramses II was only 25 years old, directly after his father’s death, King Seti I. During this time, Egypt was facing a significant threat from its neighbors, such as the Nubians, Syrians, Libyans, and Hittites. But as we know, such odds made a great commander who led the Egyptian Army to a great win and eliminated all these threats.

Battle against Sherden sea pirates

The most appreciatable win was in 1281 BC when the commander had to save his maritime business from the Sherden sea pirates. Ramses II devised a brilliant plan to eliminate them; he thought about setting up a trap for them. Ramses II awaited the pirates to attack his peaceful ships along the Mediterranean coast. And suddenly, and from out of nowhere, the troops and ships of Ramses II attack and capture the Sherden sea pirates.

Syrian campaign

In Abu Simbel Temple, there is a relief of Ramses II where he was capturing his three enemies, Libyan, Nubian, and Syrian. The Canaan were also a threat to Egypt, so Ramses II had to do some campaigns on the Canaan to limit their threat. Furthermore, these campaigns were The fuse to start the battle of Kadesh.

The Battle of Kadesh

Due to the continuous campaigns on the Canaan in Syria, the Army came to the battle of Kadesh. However, Ramses II won this battle, extended his borders to reach Syria, and continued dominating the entire region following his father’s footsteps. Moreover, he built his capital in Syria and named it Pi-Ramesses. He used it to manufacture weapons that produced around 1000 weapons per week.

This battle was a turning point for Egypt and the Hittites, who would rule the entire region and become a great force. Some historians stated that this battle ended indecisively, unlike what the Egyptians proclaimed, but what can’t be denied is that both forces suffered casualties and couldn’t achieve their objectives. Nevertheless, this battle led to peaceful negotiations and ended with a treaty signed in 1258 BC.

a collection of the battels of the Ramses II

5. Meaning and Purpose of Building Abu Simbel Temple

Building this fantastic temple wasn’t only to show dominance or how Ramesses II was so great despite his difficulties. But Ramesses II wanted to celebrate his union with the queen Nefertari. In addition, he also wants to leave what makes him remembered in the future. Ramesses II loves Queen Nefertari so much that he allies the queen Nefertari with female gods like Hathor and Isis, Reinforcing his position among other great kings and queens.

The efforts of the UNESCO World Heritage Site are noticed globally. The Abu Simbel Temple was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1979. Furthermore, the Abu Simbel Temple is not in their old place. In the early 60s, the Abu Simbel Temple and Temple of Philae were in great danger due to the floods of the Lake of Nasser, all because of the High Dam of Aswan building. The UNESCO World Heritage Site plays a crucial role in saving things. The location of the Abu Simbel Temple has changed to a new one, using one of the most challenging plans in engineering history.

A group of expert engineers, archaeologists, and heavy equipment operators works under the name of UNESCO to save Abu Simbel. The idea was to cut the whole site into smaller blocks or pieces to move them to a safer area, probably 200 meters back. Today, hundreds of tourists visit the temples daily.

Panorama of Abu Simbel, the Great Temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II and his queen Nefertari, Egypt

6. What Makes The Temple of Abu Simbel Stand Out of The Crowd

When Ramesses II built the Abu Simbel Temple, his primary purpose was to be worshipped by the people as a god. Moreover, it shows power and dominance over the territory of Nubia. The most recognized part of the Abu Simbel Temple is the four Colossal statues outside the temple.

Solar Alignment is also crucial to why Abu Simbel Temple is very popular. The Sun penetrates the temple twice a year, on February 21 and October 21. The rays of the Sun penetrate and align on the faces of Ramesses II, Amun-Re, and Re-Horakhte. However, the god Ptah is considered a god of darkness, so the rays don’t align with him as others.

The Ancient Drawings on the walls of the Abu Simbel are everywhere. On the other hand, that shows that most of the ancient artists were so talented. They used to draw the daily life of simple ancient Egyptian things like people fishing and fighting. They made beautiful drawings that caught the eye.

Exciting stories like victory at the Battle of Qadesh or The Eye of Ra show a solid connection to gods. The stories were pictures curved on the temple walls that tell how Ramesses II won his battle. Lastly, all of these details add more meaning to what the ancient Egyptian civilizations used to be in the past. People come to Abu Simbel to learn about this remarkable history.

Ptah, Amun-Ra, Ramses and Ra-Horakhty sitting next to each other in the Great Temple of Abu Simbel

7. How to Plan Your Perfect Visit to Abu Simbel

Best visiting months: October-April; cooler temperature, optimal conditions.
Transportations: Drive, fly, or join organized tours.
Ideal timing: Arrive early for crowds, a quiet atmosphere, and a panoramic sunrise.
Must-know facts: Expect security checks, dress modestly, wear protective gear, carry cash, and obey camera rules.
Practical suggestions: Study directions, plan for special needs, observe safety cautions, and refuel afterwards.

Conclusion

To sum up, The Abu Simbel Temples is proof of the brilliant and strong-willed of the ancient Egyptians. This temple was made to worship gods, remember what a true pharaoh means, and always remember them forever. People worked hard to save them for the next generation. When visitors visit the temple nowadays, it proves how unique and worthy these ancient monuments are, and they are still like no other. So, we should always respect and look after these precious reminders of our history.