Visit Dendara for its Fascinating History


Dendara, Egypt

Dendara, Egypt is home to Ptolemaic Temple of Hathor, as well as the ruins of a Coptic Christian church, and the starting point for numerous excursions on the Nile River!


Historically Speaking...


Dendara is a little town in Egypt situated on the West Bank of the Nile River and just north of Luxor. It is known for its historical sites, most notably the surprisingly well-preserved Ptolemaic Temple of Hathor. In fact, most visitors state that this temple is the best reason for visiting this small town.

Historically speaking, Dendara was once the capital of the 6th Nome of Upper Egypt and was called Nikentori. Some believe Dendara was originally built in honor of the sky and fertility goddess named Hathor, who is associated with the image of a crocodile. Dendara was mostly associated with Egyptian worship, as there were only two names ever found of Christian Bishops, Pachymius and Serapion.


Good to Know when Visiting the Temple Complex


Come excited, because you will be given the opportunity to see one of the best-preserved temples anywhere in the world! The Temple of Hathor covers 40,000 square meters and is surrounded by a mud brick enclosed wall. The temple is as old as the Ptolemaic dynasty, though Roman Emperor Tiberius most recently completed the project. The temple also rested on the foundations of other buildings that pre-dated that time period, perhaps as far back as Khufu and Cheops of the Fourth Dynasty.

Also in and around this temple complex you can find Roman and Pharaonic birth houses, as well as the ruins of a Coptic church, and a small chapel dedicated to Isis. The Temple is opened from morning until late afternoon.

You will be treated to a tourist-friendly area around the temple complex, including a modern visitor center, a bazaar and even a small cafeteria.


How Can You Get to Dendara?


If you are taking luxury tours, private tours or guided tours, then you may be driven to and from your destination. However, budget tours may require that you drive or take a taxi from Luxor, or perhaps to travel by way of a police convoy, which is actually common outside of heavily populated tourist like Cairo and Luxor. You could choose to stay at a nearby Luxor hotel and arrange for excursions to Dendera by coach or by a Nile cruiser provided by the hotel.

Everyone agrees that Dendara is worth the price of land tours because of its temple, still well-preserved even after centuries of conflict, wear and tear and natural aging. Come to Dendara to experience a part of Egyptian history.




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