Secrets of the Nile

It had been a lifelong dream of our member Ms R. Ghosh to see the pyramids of Egypt. She did so in October last year, but it was a cruise on the Nile and the sights along the way that truly captivated her.


During my first three days in Egypt, I visited the massive pyramids, the National Museum in Cairo, Alexandria, the Aswan Dam, and the Philae Temple. The grandeur of these ancient structures was awe-inspiring, each carrying the signature of a bygone era.
On the third day, I boarded a cruise on the river Nile. Like Egypt’s clear skies and the eyes of the people of the country, the river was a striking shade of blue. The ship, with its five-star amenities, was a marvel. Every meal was fit for a king.
The next day, we docked on land and crossed the Sahara to visit the Abu Simbel Temples built by Rameses II. The colossal statues of the pharaoh, who sought to deify himself, were breathtaking, as was the statue of his queen, Nefertari—an enduring testament to the respect he accorded her. On our way back to the ship, we witnessed a natural wonder: mirages. Though there was no water for miles, shimmering pools seemed to appear in the distance. What an incredible trick of nature!
Our cruise continued to Luxor, with stops at Kom Ombo, where crocodiles were once worshipped. I saw 22 crocodile mummies in the temple museum—then Esna, and Edfu, home to an ancient, still-functional temple. Finally, in Luxor, we disembarked to visit the Karnak Temple. Driving through the Sphinx Avenue, a 2.7 km-long road lined with statues, we once again stood before the towering presence of Rameses II. Later, I explored the Valley of the Kings, where close to 65 pharaohs lay entombed. As I wandered through these ancient sites, I imagined the temples as vast archives of knowledge, with hieroglyphics carved into their walls serving as the passwords to their secrets.
The trip ended with a breathtaking hot air balloon ride over the desert. Floating high above, the sand dunes looked like delicate creases on a vast sheet of cloth. From desert to river, from water to sky—Egypt took me higher and higher, leaving me with memories for a lifetime.

(As narrated to Support Elders by our member)