Latest news with #Khufu
Egypt Today
4 days ago
- Egypt Today
Timeless Wonder: Giza Pyramids buzz during Eid vacation
Giza Pyramids - file CAIRO – June 6, 2025: The Giza Pyramids, one of the most iconic archaeological sites in the world, continue to captivate both Egyptians and international visitors, especially during holidays and festive seasons like Eid al-Adha. As one of Egypt's most treasured landmarks, the pyramids represent an enduring symbol of ancient civilization and architectural brilliance. Located on the Giza Plateau, the site includes the monumental pyramids of the Fourth Dynasty kings: Khufu, his son Khafre, and his grandson Menkaure, along with the majestic Great Sphinx. Each king's pyramid was part of a grand complex that also featured smaller pyramids for queens, a "religious" subsidiary pyramid, and a valley temple linked by a ceremonial causeway adorned with scenes of daily life. These causeways led to the mortuary temples, where priests performed sacred funeral rites for the deceased kings. While the famed Solar Boats of Khufu have now been relocated to the Grand Egyptian Museum, the boat pits where they were originally discovered remain on site, offering further historical insight. The plateau also includes a number of mastabas, ancient tombs used for the burial of royal family members and high-ranking officials. As the Eid celebrations continue, many Egyptians are taking advantage of the holiday to reconnect with their heritage and explore this awe-inspiring monument of human achievement. Ticket prices for visiting the Giza Pyramids: Egyptians: EGP 60 Egyptian Students: EGP 30 Foreign Visitors: EGP 700 Foreign Students: EGP 350 Visiting Hours: Daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Cairo local time) Whether for spiritual reflection, historical fascination, or simply the thrill of standing in the shadow of ancient giants, the Giza Pyramids remain a must-visit destination for all.
Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Mall life: VR experience allows Chinook shoppers to experience the first flickers of life on Earth
During the new, immersive, virtual-reality experience Life Chronicles at Chinook Centre, visitors will eventually come across a nest of hatching Dakotaraptor eggs. Article content It's a nice 'miracle-of-life' type of moment until the mother of the new hatchlings catches on and lunges at us with Jurassic Park levels of intensity, leading to one of many hasty exits via time travel with the help of a know-it-all robot from the future named Darwin. Yes, the spectacle is definitely educational. But, at that point, it's more like being thrown into The Lost World. Article content Article content 'It's like being in a sci-fi movie,' promises Fabien Barati, CEO of the Paris-based company Excurio that created Life Chronicles. Article content It is the latest VR 'immersive expedition' to open at Chinook and will run simultaneously with Horizon of Khufu in the 10,000-foot space that once housed Nordstrom. Khufu, which was also created by Excurio, has attracted 65,000 people since opening in December. It is an ambitious spectacle that takes visitors on a time-travelling trip through Cairo and ancient Europe while telling the story of Egyptian monarch Khufu. Article content But Life Chronicles is arguably even bigger in scope, taking visitors from the first flickers of life on Earth 3.5 billion years ago right up to present-day Tanzania and into a future city in 2223. Article content Article content There are definite sci-fi elements beyond the frequent time travel. The adventure begins when our excitable biologist/guide, Charlie and Darwin accidentally activate a time probe while attending a conference on the evolution of life. This whisks participants back 3.5 billion years and through various stages of evolution. Charlie and Dawrin must locate different probes in the time period to keep the robot's batteries charged so he can help bring us back to 2223. Before the journey, visitors are shown the formation of the Earth in the solar system before travelling to the Cambrian, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods as well as the modern African Savanna. Fitted with VR headsets, we follow Charlie and Darwin. At some points, visitors are miniaturized to observe early forms of life, such as marine worms and hitch a ride on the back of a trilobite. We dodge massive flying reptiles, scary-looking marine reptiles and witness a showdown between some lumbering triceratops and tyrannosaurus before encountering giant herbivores such as Edmontosaurus and Alamosaurus and eventually the Hobbit-like Flores humans. Article content Article content Article content As with Khufu, which bases its narrative on real history, Life Chronicles is as educational as it is spectacular. While walking on cliff ledges, precariously climbing massive trees filled with snakes and other creatures and dodging dinosaurs and the spear-wielding but undeniably endearing Flores humans, Charlie excitedly pontificates with dizzying scientific detail about each period. Article content Before coming to Calgary, Life Chronicles was in Paris, London, Montreal, China and Australia. Roughly 160 people were working on it for two years before it was released, helping bring 150 species to life. It is a co-production between Excurio and the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in France, which had 30 scientists lend their expertise to the project. Article content 'They helped us recreate all those species: the plants, the animals, through different periods,' says Barati. 'It was not so easy because for all these species we only know them through fossils. No one has seen them in real life. They helped us see how they look, the colours, the textures and how they moved because, once again, nobody saw them move. We are going underwater, going into the sky and in lots of different landscapes. So it's a bit crazy. It's an adventure.'
NDTV
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
This Egyptian Restaurant Lets You Eat Right Next To The Pyramids Of Giza
If Egypt is on your travel list, chances are the Pyramids of Giza are already marked as a must-see. But what if you could add a proper meal to that plan - one that mixes reworked Egyptian flavours with a direct view of the pyramids themselves? That is exactly what makes Khufu's restaurant special. Tucked inside the Giza Pyramid Complex, it is a rare chance to dine this close to such a historic site. It just won the Resy "One To Watch Award" 2025, one of the honours given out by The World's 50 Best Restaurants. That means people are taking note of this one, and for good reason. What Makes Khufu's Restaurant Stand Out? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Khufu's Restaurant (@khufusrestaurant) There are only a handful of restaurants near the Pyramids of Giza that actually overlook the site. Khufu's is one of them, with a clear, picture-perfect view. Even though it only opened in 2022, it is already making a name for itself in Egypt's fine dining space. Earlier this year, it came in 4th on the list of 50 Best Restaurants in the Middle East and North Africa. It also topped the list as the best restaurant in Egypt for 2025. The name Khufu's pays tribute to Pharaoh Khufu, who is known for commissioning the Great Pyramid. (That very structure is where he was laid to rest.) Who Is The Chef At Khufu's Restaurant? Chef Mostafa Seif is the one running the kitchen at Khufu's restaurant. He won Top Chef Middle East in 2018 and is now known for giving Egyptian cuisine a fresh spin. He keeps traditional ingredients and cooking methods at the heart of his dishes. Khufu's is the brainchild of Giovanni Bolandrini, who is also behind the Pier88 Group - a hospitality brand that runs several high-end restaurants, including this one. What Type Of Food Is Served At Khufu's Restaurant? The tasting menus at Khufu's lean into Egyptian comfort food, but not the kind you have had before. Each dish is reworked to bring bold, new flavours to the table. It is a nod to Chef Seif's roots, but with a present-day feel. One of the standout dishes is the koshari, Egypt's national favourite, but here it is served with quail eggs and a few other surprises. Other items on the menu include Black baba ganoush, Egyptian fava puree, Charcoal Chicken and more. The idea is to give locals and tourists something fresh that still feels familiar. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants (@theworlds50best) The "One To Watch" award goes to "a rising star restaurant in the global hospitality scene which 50 Best believes has the potential to break into the list in the years to come." The winner is picked through votes by the 50 Best Academy and based on editorial calls. Kato in Los Angeles picked up the "One To Watch" last year, so Khufu's is in good company.
The Star
01-05-2025
- The Star
An unexpected journey through Egypt's ancient wonders
We'd love to hear what made your holiday so special. Your story – experiences, tips, advice – should be 700 to 800 words long in Word or Text format. Please attach at least five photos (1MB, captioned) in a separate email. There is no payment for submissions, and we reserve the right to edit all submissions. Email star2travel@ with the subject 'Readers Share'. Seeing the pyramids was never on my bucket list. Nevertheless, I joined a tour organised by my former colleague at the last minute, and spent 11 days exploring what I had only ever seen in books before then. It was winter in Egypt, but I had packed clothes for spring. The weather was a little 'weird' to me because the air was dry and I felt like the temperature was neither cold nor hot. Our first historical place was the Citadel of Salah Al-Din (Mohamed Ali Mosque was within the same vicinity). Perched on Mokkatam Hill, the citadel gave us a panoramic view of the city of Cairo. The citadel was a defensive structure against the crusaders, while the mosque was built of limestones and alabasters. We had dinner on a boat cruising along the Nile, where some male belly dancers performed for us. It was also my birthday, and the trip organiser had gotten me a cake. The next day, we went to Giza to see the pyramids as well as the Sphinx. It was so surreal to be in the vicinity of both of these ancient landmarks. The three colossal pyramids were called Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure or the father, son and grandson. These are actually made of limestones. The Sphinx is the guardian of the pyramids that has the body of a lion and a human head, with its nose broken off. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation houses artefacts from the old Egyptian Museum and 22 royal mummies – 18 kings and four queens – including Ramses 11, Hetshepsut, and Seti. The mummies were transported from the Valley Of The Pharaohs in 2021. Remember to check out the shop selling papyrus, one of the oldest papers in the world. You can buy papyrus souvenirs from here. The reader was happy to finally see the pyramids in Egypt. — Photos: JANE LAZAR We flew to Luxor and boarded a cruise ship to Aswan to visit the temples. The first one was Kanak, the temple of the ancient god, Amun-ra. It was created over 1,000 years ago and has massive columns, obelisks, statues and hieroglyphs. The Luxor Temple meanwhile was created by Ramses 11. We were here during sunset and the place looked amazing. The next day, we went to the Valley Of The Kings, the burial place of the pharaohs. We had access to all three of them and there where beautiful engravings on the walls. Only the mummy of Tutankhamun remains in this place as apparently, it 'refuses' to be moved to another place. I skipped the Mortuary Temple of Hetshepsut and decided to take a break instead, having a mango sorbet and a cup of coffee. It was interesting to see vendors on sail boats selling shawls and throwing them into our windows on our ship. Later at Esna, we visited another temple called Edfu, but this time we were on a horse and carriage. I skipped going to the Kom Ombo temple, which is a museum of mummified crocodiles. By now there was just too much information about temples so I gave myself another break, which was nice because I got to observe the locals and tourists. To visit Abu Simbel, we had to leave our ship at 5am as the drive there took about four hours. The complex was built by Ramses 11 and consists of two temples, one for himself, Amun-Ra and other gods, and the other for his wife, Queen Nefertiti. The reader (right) at the Catacomb. Both the temples were moved 200m inland to prevent them being submerged following the construction of the new Aswan Dam, which we later visited. Before leaving Egypt, we spent some time in Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city bordering the Mediterranean Sea. We checked out the Catacomb, Qaitbay Citadel and the magnificent library, Bibliothecca Alexandrina. The library guide briefed us on the building's structure and other interesting facts. I got to see the first printing machine used in Egypt. Even though it was last minute, I am glad I made this trip to Egypt. The views expressed are entirely the writer's own.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Why Egypt's £38 million ‘revamp' of the Pyramids of Giza is long overdue
To paraphrase a familiar saying, there are lies, damned lies and misleading headlines. And if you have noticed recent reports of a '$51 million revamp' (£38 million) of the Pyramids at Giza – and frustrations with it – then you may have a few questions. True, the Pyramids site is currently in the midst of a multi-million-dollar 'overhaul'. But this has nothing to do with adding an extra tier to Khufu's grave, or painting the Sphinx a brighter colour to make it look more alluring in an Instagram feed. The plan is mainly concerned with improving the visitor experience at what is a place of inestimable historical worth – and with protecting international tourists from some of the more aggressive attempts to part them from their money. Anyone who has made a pilgrimage to Giza will know that the latter has long been a problem. For many travellers, a stroll around the complex is not a serene exercise in admiring the marvels of centuries past. It is a trying scenario in which you are harried at every step by hawkers and 'guides' – desperate to sell you everything from plastic scarab-beetles to donkey rides, photo 'opportunities' with sad camels, and their 'expertise'. It can be an exhausting process – sometimes verging on the unpleasant. A change to this attritional situation is one element of the 'revamp'. Last week saw a new gateway given a trial run. Traditionally, visitors have reached the site via the main entrance, on the north-east side of the complex. But recent days have seen the testing of a fresh way in, on the Faiyum Desert Road, on the monuments' north-western flank. This is a deliberate measure, designed to reduce congestion – in part by limiting the access afforded to private vehicles. Instead, the ambition is for tourists to transfer to more eco-friendly electric coaches that will carry them the last metres to the Pyramids. A reasonable idea, you might think – but inevitably, it has caused howls of protest from the local vendors. There have been accusations of restraint of trade; complaints that moving the gate excludes them from the game. And with an even greater inevitability, there have been attempts to block the new entrance, leading to even greater congestion. This is hardly surprising. In a country of high poverty levels, tourists are a key source of income for those who work on the fringes of the industry. Keeping them at bay is never going to be a popular initiative. Not that the demonstrations seem to have worried the head of the company charged with the modernisation of the site. In a post on X, Naguib Sawiris, the founder of the Orascom Pyramids Entertainment Services Company, wrote that 'the well-being of the public and preservation of this treasure is more important than catering to the interests of 2,000 individuals who have caused harm to this country for years.' There are, undoubtedly, more tactful ways of expressing this sentiment, but many would say that Mr Sawiris has a point. The Pyramids of Giza are, perhaps, the most remarkable ancient landmarks in the world. They should be a world-class experience for those who pay to see them – not a random backdrop to endless tugs at the elbow. You do not have to undergo such harassment if you visit the Acropolis in Athens, or the Colosseum in Rome; icons similar in magnificence (if not quite in age). Not only do visitors to the Pyramids deserve to appreciate their splendour in a calm context, the tombs themselves deserve it. Moreover, there are increasingly obvious signs that visitors are unhappy with the fraught ambience around the complex. Earlier this month, a Dutch veterinary nurse sparked consternation in Egypt when she was caught on camera, punching, then chasing a 19-year-old local man who had been whipping a donkey close to the archaeological site. Joke van der Post both apologised for, and explained, her actions, saying that 'I don't think violence is the smartest thing to do, but it's the only thing I could do at that moment. He's taller and stronger than me – and old enough to know right from wrong.' Of course, there is more to this 'revamp' of the Pyramids than altering the way in. Thankfully, plans to replace some of the granite blocks on the smallest of the three main tombs (the Pyramid of Menkaure), mooted in January, have been quietly dropped. But the broader blueprint – to bring the Giza necropolis in line with the likes of the Acropolis as a 21st century heritage attraction – is well under way. The Grand Egyptian Museum – the much-delayed, much-heralded showcase for the treasures of the country's incomparable ancient story – is effectively open just under two miles north-west of the Pyramids (its official inauguration is pencilled in for July 3, but its galleries are accessible). Ultimately, the two sites will be connected via an area of hotels and pedestrian pathways (of which the new entrance will be a part) which will facilitate a much easier journey between them. As the overall name of the project – Giza 2030 – alludes, the complete picture is still five years away. But if it results in the Pyramids being fit for the modern world, and not just the ancient, then Egypt, as well as the many travellers who visit it, will be the beneficiary. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
