Category: Cairo Attractions

An absolute must-see in Cairo is Khan El Khalili Bazaar.
What is Khan el Khalili’s location?
How long ago was it built?
What is the significance of Khan El Khalili, and how did it come about?
Getting through the Khan El Khalili Bazaar: Any pointers?

Any new country we visit, we’re always on the search for a unique corner shop or true market area.

Exotic spices and other hidden gems may be found at these markets, so they’re not only places to buy goods, but also places worth visiting for the sheer beauty and intrigue they provide.

Every Egypt vacation package or Nile cruise should include a visit at this famous market in Cairo, Egypt.

The Khan el Khalili Bazaar in Cairo is one of the world’s oldest and most attractive marketplaces.

For the most part, the origins of this unusual market, what it is, and the essential role it serves not just for the locals but also as one of Egypt’s top tourist attractions remain a mystery.

Khan El Khalil’s location and date of construction are unknown.

It’s no secret where the famous Khan el Khalili Bazaar may be found.

Since Egypt was the home of the ancient Egyptian Civilization and the strong pharaohs, Khan el Khalili has always been a source of intrigue.

This bazaar has served a wide range of purposes and fulfilled many diverse aims, which makes the stories that have been recounted about it throughout history all the more amazing.

Khan el Khalili’s history is entwined with Cairo’s history, and the structure has been rebuilt, repaired, and modified several times.

Fatimid era sources indicate that the Khan el Khalili Bazaar was constructed in the 10th century.

According to historical sources, Gawhar Al-Siqilli, a Fatimid commander who invaded Egypt and utilized his victory to create the ancient Bazaar in its present position, was the first to develop this region. To accommodate both his own family and other government institutions, Gawhar started construction of a vast palace complex in 969 CE.

Two palaces were completed, although only the larger Eastern and Western patterns were completed.

In the beginning, the broader east-west pattern was built first. Formerly the southern end of the eastern Fatimid palace, the current site of Khan el Khalili was used as a burial place for the Fatimid Caliphs.

When it was first designated as a city, however, the previously described Area was closed to the general public.

The mosque was restored to the public in the 14th century after the Fatimid Caliphate was defeated by Salah Ad-Din in 1171 and the mosque was closed to the public again.

To achieve a transformation from a place city to an economic powerhouse, Egypt’s rulers and state administration were relocated outside the walls of the city, paving the way for its transformation into a bustling economic centre visited by ordinary Egyptians and visitors.

Qasba (today known as Al-Muizz street) was the city’s primary axis during the Ayubids and the Mamluks, and was a favored and significant site for religious complexes and projects under both regimes..

This region’s accessible acreage started to shrink in favor of its streets, which were cultivated with many businesses, leaving little opportunity for future growth and development.

It was a combination of these circumstances, as well as officials’ desire for a more organized market and commercial sector, that led to the decision to replace mobile and street shops with stone structures that featured retail space.

In spite of the Black Death’s devastation of Cairo by the reign of Sultan Barquq, first Mamluk Sultan, it was still an economic and cultural powerhouse at the time.

Fatimid Complex was demolished and rebuilt with a vast Khan (market) in the heart of the city during the Sultan’s first reign, with numerous mamluk elites establishing commercial venues that would later be known as Khan El Khalili (Khan of the Khalili).

Several campaigns of demolition and rebuilding, as well as several name changes, occurred in Khan El Khalili throughout the sixteenth century..

It has evolved through time in order to mimic the Bedestan market in Ottoman cities, where the most precious and most expensive goods were exchanged in a central location.

Even after extensive renovation and reconstruction, many of the city’s historic structures have managed to retain their unique character and allure.

There were multiple Khans or wekalas of comparable items in Khan el Khalili bazaar’s final shape, with Souq streets used to traverse between them.

What is the significance of Khan El Khalili, and how did it come about?

After learning about the picturesque neighborhood’s rich past and present, it’s natural to wonder what it does for a job.

As time passed from the eleventh through the fifteenth century, the Great Khan transformed from an outlying fortress to a hub of trade in rare and valuable goods.

Now it’s a popular tourist spot where people from all over the world come together to mingle.

Market stalls are now mostly occupied by sellers who are either tourists or locals.

An genuine expertise may still be found in jewelry shops, for example.

Recreational institutions such as coffee shops, street food vendors, restaurants, merchants of unusual spices and herbs as well as others may be found throughout the neighborhood.

The Bazaar’s very unusual and different architectural styles and building processes, although peculiar to the East, are extremely captivating and mind-blowingly amazing.

There are various religious sites in the area, including the Al-Hussein Mosque and shrine and the Al-Azhar mosque, each of which tells a different tale.

Khan EL Khalili’s advice;

Listed below are some helpful tips for making the most of your time at the Khan El Khalili Bazaar.

There will be endless exhibits of handmade carpets, antiques, gold artifacts and antiquities, pharaonic souvenirs and other fascinating items to look out for here.

A walk along Muizz street, appreciating the Islamic architecture, or one of the many traditional coffee shops, which are popular with locals and visitors alike, are just a few of the many things to do in the Bazaar.

Since it’s in the heart of the city, using any of the several subway lines that pass through here is a cinch.

Hiring an uber might save you the hassle of transferring between buses or subway trolleys.

Take a minibus or microbus from EL Tahrir Square or Ramses Station.

To sum it up, using the Metro is an incredibly fast and handy choice.

In the end, a trip to Egypt wouldn’t be complete without seeing Khan el Khalil.

You’ll discover a wide variety of things to do in the city, from historic landmarks to bustling marketplaces to a spot to meet residents and tourists alike for tea and conversation.

El-Hussein is also a refuge for individuals in need, especially those who are depressed and desperate.

If you’re looking for an oasis of tranquility, complementation, beauty, wonderful company, and the best that Egypt has to offer in one place—then Khan El Khalili is the place for you.

The Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo is a must-see for anybody visiting the Egyptian capital.

In the 9th and 10th centuries, the Abbasid caliphs ruled from Baghdad, and Ibn Tulun’s Mosque, which is accessible daily from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., is one of the few remaining examples of traditional Islamic architecture.

He may have been inspired by the city’s mosque, which served as the focal point of Samarra’s purpose-built capital and where the whole population assembled for Friday prayer. Approaching the mosque, you are met with a “Enclosure,” or barrier.

The Gayer-Anderson House, located to the left of the entry, acts as a protective barrier between the mosque and its immediate environs.

Until you go inside, it is difficult to appreciate the mosque’s real size: the courtyard is 92m square, and its whole complex is 140m by 122m.

In addition to its immense size, the mosque stands out for its simplicity.

Repetition and constraint are apparent in Ibn Tulun’s architects’ designs, which include just little flower capitals and stucco rosettes at first glance. Sycamore wood frieze depicting nearly one fifth of the Koran inscribed in Kufic script may be found tucked under the arches.

With its geometric ablutions fountain dating back to the 13th century, it serves as a creative focal point.

The installation of marble and glass mosaics to the mihrab, which proved to be the only blunder in the whole structure, occurred about the same period.

The minaret’s exterior spiral staircase gives it a helical shape, setting it apart from neighbouring buildings.

For a short time, Ibn Tulun is supposed to have presented a piece of paper curled into a spiral as the design.

According to this theory the great minaret of Samarra is the most probable source of inspiration.

The Al-Hussein Mosque in Cairo is a must-see for anybody visiting the Egyptian capital.

In the Al Hussein Mosque, the oldest complete copy of the Holy Quran in the world is maintained.

It is also located on a well-known area near the Khan Khalili Bazaar, which draws a great number of tourists from over the globe and Muslim pilgrims.

Location:

In addition to its convenient location in Cairo’s Khan Khalili and Old Cairo neighbourhoods, the hotel is also accessible to both solo tourists and tour groups.

History:

The Al Hussein Mosque is visited often by dignitaries who come to pray there on special occasions because of its rich historical history, which contains an original copy of the Holy Qu’ran. The cool marble, green, and silver tones of the interior keep Hussien’s brain in check.

The Umayyads killed Muhammed’s grandson Hussein in Iraq in 680, despite Ali, Hussein’s father, claiming to be Muhammed’s son-in-law and claiming to be Muhammed’s successor.

As a consequence of this intergenerational struggle for the caliphate, Islam was torn apart for centuries.

Even while Sunni Muslims recognised the Umayyad caliphate, they also prohibited anybody descended from Ali from assuming the position.

There was one group of Muslims, however, who refused to accept any leader other than a descendant of Ali and regarded Hussein as martyr, unlike the majority of Muslims, who accepted any leader other than Ali. Despite Egypt’s mostly Sunni Muslim populace, Hussein is revered as a saint there.

In terms of popularity, he is second only to the Prophet’s granddaughter, Saiyida Zeinab.
An additional eye-catching aspect of the area around the mosque is the large ornate enormous umbrellas that are erected in front of it for a number of different purposes.

As a first priority, it protects Muslim worshipers from the sweltering summer heat and provides a place to hide from the rain when the seasons bring heavy downpours.

According to the manufacturer, the design of these electric umbrellas was inspired by many Saudi Arabian mosques.

The Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo is a stunning example of the city’s architectural heritage.

Al-Mosque Hakim’s is a must-see in Cairo, since it is located near to the Northern Walls and celebrates one of Egypt’s most famous monarchs.

When he became the 6th Fatimid caliph at the age of 11, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah was only 11 years old, and he was 15 when he ordered the execution of his teacher.

Persecution of Christians, Jews, and businesspeople were hallmarks of his reign (996-1021), as was his virulent bigotry toward women.

According to tradition, he reportedly had a gang of boisterous females burned alive in a public bath because he forbade them from leaving their homes.

The caliph stood on their heads as his Nubian slave, Masoud, sodomised traders who had been caught cheating during Al-inspections Hakim’s inspections.

A group of Indian Bohara Isma’ili Shi’ites who are dedicated to maintaining Cairo’s Fatimid mosques rebuilt the mosque in 1980, and it was reopened to the public the following year.

Even though the original timber tie-beams and plaster frieze beneath the ceiling still remain, the brass lighting, glass chandeliers, and new mihrab infuriated purists.

From the top of the mosque, you can see Bab El-Nasr Cemetery and the mosque’s unique minarets, which are designed like bastions.

There is now some wheelchair accessibility in the courtyard, thanks to recent improvements (you will require a friend or family member to unlock the side door to the left of the main entry).

The Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo is a must-visit site.

Islamic studies are taught in Cairo’s Al Azhar Mosque, widely regarded as the world’s oldest university.

The biggest collection of Islamic art in the world may be seen here.

There are often Muslim students from various countries reading as they make their way inside the mosque to pray.

Location:

It is situated in the Khan Khalili region, near the Bazaar’s underpass, about 30 minutes from downtown Cairo.

Many of Cairo’s oldest mosques may be found here, dating from a variety of periods and architectural styles.

History:

It was founded in 970 and Al-Azhar University claims to be the world’s oldest university. The Al-Azhar Mosque, whose name may be translated as ‘The Radiant,’ ‘Blooming,’ or ‘Resplendent’

In Egypt, the mosque has always had a role in politics since it is the greatest religious authority for Muslims in Egypt.

The Shi’ite stronghold was turned into a bastion of Sunni conservatism during Salah al-rule, Din’s but Napoleon’s armies desecrated it to demonstrate their power.

As a nationalist stronghold since the eighteenth century, Al-Azhar was the setting for Nasser’s bold address during Egypt’s 1956 invasion.
The mosque is a jumble of eras and styles that somehow manages to be both beautiful and disorienting at the same time.

Students used to have their hair cut at the Barber’s Gate, which was erected in the 14th century and is surrounded by three minarets, as they entered the huge Sahn (courtyard).

Although the rosettes and keel-arched panels on the sahn façade date from the Fatimid period, the rites (residential quarters) of the madrassa are from the Mamluk period and are screened by latticework.

While these structures (which are seldom exposed to the public at the time of this writing, but it’s worth asking if you may go up) look to have been built decades or centuries ago, the skyline is studded with hundreds of minarets, and the views from the top are stunning.