Dendera Temple Complex is located approximately 60 km from Luxor, and it is most famous for its striking Temple of Hathor, Egypt’s best preserved temple. This is yet another ancient site that features many, but not all of our existing Egypt tour packages.

Dendera Temple Complex – Dendara near Luxor.

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The temple complex of Dendara it is a very popular tourist attraction that is featured in several of our 5-Star Nile River cruises. The grounds around the complex have been extensively landscaped, and tourists will find a well managed visitor center, as well as a café and a bazaar.

A Brief History Of Dendera

Dendera Temple is for the most part a Greco-Roman temple complex which many historians believe was built to honor Hathor, goddess of the sky and fertility but this has never yet been proven. Hathor is associated with the image of a crocodile, and the original city had a crocodile as its official symbol.

Many historians have argued that the image of a crocodile has been used many times in cities all over Egypt. Unlike many other similar Luxor tourist attractions, archeologists believe that Dendera Temple was used almost exclusively by the Egyptians. The fact that only two relatively insignificant Christian structures have been found at the site also tends to support this line of thought.

Temple Of Hathor

The Temple of Hathor is largely believed to be the best preserved temple of its kind in all of Egypt. It is a vast structure covers more than 40,000 square meters, and it stands directly above older buildings dating back to the time of the pyramids of Cheops and Khufu of the 4^th dynasty.

Also at Dendera Temple, visitors can explore a small chapel dedicated to Isis, as well as the ruins of an old Coptic Church. There are also a number of Roman and Pharaonic birth houses. An interesting fact to think about when visiting the area, is that Cleopatra herself is said to have given birth to a son at the birth houses at Dendera Temple

Visiting Dendera Temple While In Egypt

Due to its location, the Dendera Temple is typically only visited by tourists traveling to or from Luxor. It is also quite often included in Nile cruises from Luxor to Aswan that feature a visit to Luxor. Likewise, most Nile cruises from Aswan to Luxor will include a visit to this remarkably well preserved attraction.

If you’re traveling on your own it can be a little bit tricky get to the site, and it should be noted that some budget tours rely on the use of tour coaches. If however you are booking your Egypt all-inclusive vacation through us and it includes a trip to Dendera Temple, you’ll typically be driven to the site in an air conditioned vehicle by your personal guide and driver.