How to Get to Sit Oasis and Places to visit in Siwa Oasis
Siwa Oasis is located about 900 KM out of Cairo city, the best way to get to Siwa Oasis is via Alexandria. There are many fantastic places to visit in Siwa Oasis. We are listing below the top attractions and things to do in Siwa Oasis to help you plan a wonderful time in this magical peace of the Earth.
Siwa saltlake road by Walid Hassanein
Top Attractions in Siwa Oasis
Siwa is different, it is Egyptians, but North African. Most Siwans are Berbers.Furthermore, These are people that roamed the North Africa coast from Tunisia to Morocco. The berbers are the true western desert indigenous people, as early as 10,000 B.C.
The Siwan people, traditions, rites, dress and decorations and tools are mostly alien to the other oasis in the western desert.
They are mostly aligned with people from Maghreb, the Northern Coast of Africa from Tripoli to Morocco.
Siwa, known to have been inhabited in Paleolithic and Neolithic times, was called Santariya by the Arabs.
Little is known about Siwa during the thousands of years of the ancient Egyptians Civilizations. Furthermore,No monuments from any of the three major Egyptians period, the old, middle or new kingdoms have been found in Siwa.
Siwa Oasis Geography
Siwa Safari Gardens
by heatheronhertravels
The Siwa depression is 82 kilometers long and 9 to 28 kilometers wide. Futhermore, it is the furthest Egyptian depression from the Nile Valley. Moreover, the Northern region makes up bays and outlier mountains cut by wadis and passes. Additionally, the southern region of the oasis, including the escarpment, is inundated by dunes from the great sand sea which extend over 500 kilometers North to the South and 60 to 80 kilometers.
The Fortress At Shali
This attraction was built on a hill inside a Protective wall originally breached by a single gate. The maze of mud-brick buildings that comprises the Fortress served the people of the oasis for nearly eight centuries. Furthermore, The inhabitants had to live in the narrow quarters, sharing with the animals, which were herded into the fortress each evening.
The huge chunks of salt so prevalent in Siwa oasis, were used in the construction of the fortress, as they helped strengthen the wall. Additionally, Rain has unfortunately proved to be more destructive to the fortress than any human invaders.
Gebel AL Dakrur
Gebel Al Dakrur is just a few miles south of Shali. Furthermore, it is visible from all points in the oasis and its’ triple peaks serve as a good landmark when travelling East or West. The view from the summit of this mountain is outstanding. Sand cures in Siwa Oasis. There are three doctors at Dakrur famous for their sand cures treatment of rheumatism and arthritis.
Siwa Oasis by youssef_alam
A sand bath is taken during the hottest months of the year, which are july, august and september. Patients from as far away as Sweden and Germany make the journey to Siwa oasis for cures. They stay at one of the clinics at the base of the mountain. Additionally, early each morning workers dig shallow graves in the sand along the slopes to allow the sun to heat the area. At the midday when the sun is the most intense, patients lie in the hollow and covered with additional hot sand. Futhermore, less sand is piled in the area around the heart. The patient is removed to a nearby tent, wrapped in hot blankets, and asked to drink herbal teas and chicken soup.
The treatment continues for five to seven days at which time the patients are forbidden to bathe. Additionally, the patients also are unable to consume anything cold.
Cleopatras Bath
The springs of Siwa are famous throughout the Western desert. The spring of the sun Or Cleopatras bath has been mentioned by travellers to Siwa since the days of Herodotus, legend maintains that Cleopatra swam here when she visited Siwa oasis. It must be assumed that Alexander the great also did.
The Temple Of The Oracle
This is a spectacular temple. The temple of Amun was built during the twenty sixth dynasty. The temple and its’ oracle flourished into the Greek and Roman times. Furthermore, the temple was built on top of mountains . The ruins of the temple can be reached by climbing a well marked path up the side of the rock.
According to a legend, the temple was built in honour of ham, the son of Noah, by Danaus the Egyptian. Another legend relates the foundation of the temple to the Greek god Dionysus. While lost in the western desert, Dionysus was perishing from thirst, when a ram appeared and guided him to the spring of Agoumi,in gratitude Dionysus entered the temple.
It is believed that Alexander the great wished to consult the Siwan oracle to seek confirmation that he was the son of Zues, The Greek god of gods, when he and his entourage arrived. A manifestation of the oracle was paraded through the city accompanied by eighty priests. After his visit to the oracle, whenever his image appeared on a coin. Alexander was shown with horns of the ram, the symbol of Anum, the god of gods in Egypt.
Conclusion
Siwa is time machine, it’s a place where a person can go back many decades. In Siwa Oasis many travelers spend sometime in trunquility and the finally found the secret of life in this magical spot of the Earth. Come to visit Siwa and discover the place.
