The Temple of Khnum, dedicated to the ram-headed god of the annual flood, is in the center of the modern town of Esna. Due to the accumulation of silt in the area, it is now about 9 meters below street level. The hypostyle hall has well-preserved reliefs that date from the 1st to the 3rd century AD. A series of texts here describe the festivals at Esna and include two hymns to Khnum.

Near Esna, there is also the Ma’ala Necropolis, which holds two rock-cut tombs from the early 1st Intermediate Period.

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Daily, 9 AM – 5 PM

TICKET COST:
Temple of Khnum: Egyptian: 2 LE
Foreign: 15 LE

Ma’ala Tombs: Egyptian: 1 LE
Foreign: 10 LE

50% reduction for bearers of International Student ID Card

LOCATION:
Esna is on the west bank of the Nile, about 54 km south of Luxor and 155 km north of Aswan. The Necropolis is 35 km south of Luxor.

DIRECTIONS:
BY BOAT: Esna is accessible by boat and is noted for the two locks along the Nile. From the docks, a second form of transportation is needed.

BY TRAIN: The train station is on the opposite side of the Nile, making it more difficult to access the site.

BY BUS: Buses run from both Aswan and Luxor to Esna and will drop off about 1 km from the temple.

BY CARRIAGE: Horse-drawn carriages are available for transportation to and from the Temple of Khnum and charge about 5 LE each way.

BY TAXI: You will have to travel by private taxi in a convoy from Luxor to Esna. Within Esna, ask for the Temple of Khnum, ask for maabd Esna. To get to the Necropolis, ask for maqqabar al-ma’ala.

FACILITIES:
The town of Esna has a bank, which is open daily except Friday from 8:30 AM until 2 PM and a post office, which is open 7 AM to 2 PM.