CYCLING TO THE TEMPLE OF ISIS – SHELWIT LUXOR on a track along side the agricultural fields

FROM MADINAT HABU TEMPLE I CYCLED SOUTH TO SHELWIT, 🇪🇬

I cycled south to Shelwit from Madinat Habu
I cycled south to Shelwit from Madinat Habu

leaving the crowds visiting the temple far behind.

Spoil heaps of Malqata Lake near the track I cycled on
Spoil heaps of Malqata Lake near the track I cycled on

The track runs between the original lakebed for Malkata Lake, created for the Pharoah Amenhotep III in the 14th century BC and the mini hills that are the spoil heaps of the lake excavations. My horse ride also went along the lake. A video of my bike ride is below.

Temple of Isis - Shelwit
Temple of Isis – Shelwit

Its an easy ride – with little traffic of any sort – especially as it was mid-day and above 35c.

Chapel - Temple of Isis - Shelwit
Chapel – Temple of Isis – Shelwit

A canal from the Nile gives irrigation to the fields, which in fact are the furthest west that the agriculture fields reach

Coptic engraving - Temple of Isis - Shelwit
Coptic engraving – Temple of Isis – Shelwit

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A few diesel pumps thud as they do their work – and some seemingly abandoned, but relatively modern, metal Zawaffa water lifting devices are still standing.

View from Temple of Isis towards Madinat Habu - 5km away
View from Temple of Isis towards Madinat Habu – 5km away

The Temple of Isis is small, and dates from around the start of the Ptolemaic period. Several Roman Emperors have Cartouches engraved. Later the building was used by Coptic Christians.

Author: Tony Walsh

Book author including the current Bradt guide to Oman