The Temple of Abu Simbel Illumination
What: The Sun festival – the illumination of the Abu Simbel temple is a bi-annual event in which the immortal monuments to the Egyptian King Ramses II and his wife on the side of the Abu Simbel temple are cast out of their yearly shadow by the dawns ascending sun.
Standing as not just a tribute to the Egyptian King, who dominated his empire, the temples are also an impressive architectural feat of the Egyptian era, as the 3,200 year old temple are lit up only on what are believed to the key dates of his reign – his birth and his ascension to the throne – and are also positioned perfectly so that 23 metre statue and the surrounding monuments perfectly catch the light, but that of Ptah, the god of the underworld does not — which accompanied by music and performances and in the presence of thousands of tourists, architects and state officials makes for a spectacular performance.
When: The bi-annual illuminations, which have taken place for the last 3200 years, take place on both the 22nd of February and the 22nd of October – which are believed to alight to the birthday and coronation of King Ramses II.
Where: The Abu Simbel Temples are located in in Abu Simbel in the south of Egypt and are approximately 20 miles from the border of Sudan.
Duration: The temple typically opens at around 3am on the days of the illumination with the first sun rays expected at around 5am and due to hit the temple at 6am – when the effect and illumination lasts for around 30 minutes.
Tickets: Tickets are required to enter the temple (purchase on site) and cost $15 usd – it’s advised to arrive early to avoid queues and bring cash as the credit card services can be unpredictable.
Need to Know: The Abu Simbel Great Temple has enhanced security measures so allow extra time to pass through security and make sure not to bring excess items, it’s also advised to arrive early and wear appropriate clothing as you can expect a period of standing in the cold night before the illumination begins.
