The small hill that is the structure on which the Abu Simbel temple is built

The Abu Simbel temple is built on a small hillock (actually there are 2 temples, and the second one dedicated to the wife of the Pharaoh is built on another hill a few meters away). There are 4 huge statues on the outside of the hillock, and the temple is actually built inside, where the hillock has been hollowed out.
In this photo, taken from the side, you can see the giant statues of the Pharaoh, on the outside of the hill and right between the statues, there is an entrance that leads to the inner sections of the temple.

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Tourists heading towards a bend while on the way to the Abu Simbel temple in Egypt

As you move towards the Abu Simbel temple (which is built into a small hill, burrowing inside), you need to move a small distance from the parking, and then turn around a hill to actually get to the temple. Lake Nasser is located very close to the temple, and for a time, it would seem that you are actually heading towards the water of the lake, but if you look closely, you can see how the tourists are walking on a defined path that curves so that it will lead away from the water.

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View of path leading from the parking to the Abu Simbel temple

The incredible statue of Abu Simbel is located in the southern half of Egypt, 280 km from the city of Aswan. The temple of Abu Simbel was also very famous because of the movement of the temple to higher ground (through a process whereby all the stones making up the temple were numbered, along with their position, and then moved to a higher ground to make up the same temple).
This photo is that of the path that leads to the actual temple, from the parking (not a very long distance, taking around 10 minutes of walking).

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View of cruise ship on the waters of Lake Nasser, through a barred fence at Abu Simbel in Egypt

In a previous post, I had mentioned how there is a cruise option on how to get to Abu Simbel from Aswan. The waters of Lake Nasser stretches from Aswan all the way to Abu Simbel and beyond (since Lake Nasser stretches for a length of approx 550km).
In this photo, you can see the berthing of the cruise ship near Abu Simbel, and a lot of people sunning themselves on the top deck of the cruise ship, enjoying the sun (this was in the month of February when the sun is not so hot).

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Trees and greenery to one side of the Abu Simbel temple in South Egypt

The view that you get when you see the Abu Simbel temple is of some magnificent statues; but you do also see a lot of barren land, very little vegetation, and so on. Right next to the Abu Simbel temple is also present the waters of Lake Nasser.
Surprisingly for the landscape, to one side of the temple is also a lot of greenery and trees, and when you see them there, it is pretty surprising. You also see the water of Lake Nasser, with sand also present there.

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Path from parking to the temple at Abu Simbel in Egypt

When you see Abu Simbel or the path that leads there from Aswan, you would think that it is all desert and barren. But, in this photo, you can see the greenery that has been put in for the benefit of tourists, this being the path that leads from the parking to the start of the hillock which houses the temple of Abu Simbel. Seeing this, no one would believe the barrenness of the land nearby.

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Cruise ship, from Aswan, at the Abu Simbel temple in South Egypt

Lake Nasser is a huge lake, one of the largest man made reservoirs in the world, created due to the construction of the Aswan Dam. The Lake is huge, stretching nearly 550 Km long; so one of the tourist options is for a cruise on Lake Nasser, from Aswan to Abu Simbel and back.
In this photo, you can see a cruise ship at Abu Simbel, docked. This seems like a nice option for a leisurely visit; you can go from Aswan to Abu Simbel and back on a luxury ship and enjoy yourself.

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Tourists disembarking from a van after arriving at Abu Simbel in Egypt

Abu Simbel is a spectacular site with a lot of historical significance. It was a temple constructed to show the grandeur of the Pharaoh Ramesses II, also as an indicator to visitors from the region of Nubia (Sudan) that they would be better off not trying to do any kind of military misadventure in Egypt.
It is located 280 km away from the nearest city of Aswan, and takes a long journey to get there. After arriving there, and getting off from the vehicle, there is a need to stretch and unwind (also, since this is a dry region even though the river is next door, do watch the weather before you get there).

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Tourists getting a stop at a Water Cabinet before going to Abu Simbel in Egypt

The journey from Aswan to Abu Simbel is long for anybody making their way by road (you can also get here by plane, or by ship). The road journey is approximately 280 km, along a straight road with almost no traffic and no habitation. It takes a bit less than 3 hours to make the journey.
So, after this journey, the first stop for a lot of people is the loo over there, where you pay around 1 Egyptian pound to go inside the loo and then you make your way to the actual temple of Abu Simbel.

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Water to the side of the Abu Simbel temple in South Egypt

Abu Simbel is an extremely famous temple in southern Egypt. The temples were famous earlier for their large statues, but became extremely famous with the construction of the Aswan High Dam, which was going to lead to the creation of Lake Nasser, a huge reservoir, 550 km long. The increase in water levels with the formation of the lake would have drowned Abu Simbel, so in the 1960's, these temples were moved to a higher location, an incredible engineering feat.

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Tourists walking around the edge of the hillock at the Abu Simbel temple in Egypt

When you get to the Abu Simbel temple, there is a bit of distance (around a 10 minute walk) to the actual spot of the temple. You get from the parking along a straight path, until you get to the hillock that hosts the actual temple and then you have to walk around the edge of the hillock (as can be seen in this photo) till you actually get to the temple. The water of the lake is right next to the hillock, and makes for a nice contrast between the brown of the harsh land and the blue of the river.

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Tourists around the entry door to the Abu Simbel temple in Egypt

The Abu Simbel temple consists of actually 2 temples, one larger and one smaller. This is a view of the larger structure, built inside a small hillock. The current structure of the temple is somewhat interesting, since it consists of statues built into the rock face (and these are pretty large statues) with the entrance to the temple through a small opening between the statues (and no photography allowed inside the temple).

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Tourist admiring some of the statues at the foot of the Abu Simbel temple in Egypt

A view of a tourist at the base of the smaller statues and sculptures at the Abu Simbel temple in lower Egypt. The temple of Abu Simbel was built fairly distant from Aswan, around 280 km, along the river Nile. The temple was built by the pharaoh Ramesses II as a measure of the magnificence of his rule, and also meant to be a grand warning to visitors from Sudan to the south, so that they realize the grandeur of his rule.
In the 1960's, there was a huge effort to move the temple from its original location to the current location, in order that the rise in waters due to the construction of the dam on the Nile at Aswan does not drown the temple.

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View of the statues at Abu Simbel along with tourists at their base

The statues at Abu Simbel are so huge, specially when you can see the tourists at the base of the statues. There are 2 incredible feats involved; one where the pharaoh Ramesses II got this massive temple constructed 280 km from Aswan, and the second major engineering feat was the removal of this temple to its current spot to avoid the swirling waters from the construction of the dam at Aswan in the 1960's.

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Sculpture of the head of the Pharaoh at the Abu Simbel temple near Aswan

The temple of Abu Simbel was built by the Ramesses II (acknowledged as one of the most powerful Egyptian pharaohs of all time, who ruled for many decades over a vast empire) as a projection of his power. It provided visitors from the South with a grand view that would seek to intimidate them, and also showcased his image as that of a living god; this was a power that was used to reinforce the power of the pharaoh in his people.
In this statue at Abu Simbel, you can see the head of the majestic statues at the entrance to the temple being portrayed in the form of the pharaoh.

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Tourists coming in and out of the Abu Simbel temple in Egypt

The Abu Simbel temple in the region of Nubia in lower Egypt. This was a magnificent temple, that along with a smaller temple, was built by the Pharaoh Ramesses II as a means of showcasing his power and magnificence.
Now, Abu Simbel is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Egypt, even though it is located far way from any other place, being almost 280 km from the city of Aswan, around 3 hours of driving on a straight road.

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