Khan al-Khalili is a market in the old part of Cairo. It is located west of the Al-Hussein Mosque. Khan el-Khalili is considered the largest market in Africa. The first evidence of Khan El-Khalili dates back to the end of the 13th century, when a caravanserai was located in its place - an area for trade and recreation for caravan workers, the real “kings of the roads” of that time.
Khan el-Khalili is a relatively small but very touristy market. There are souvenirs for every taste and budget - spices, jewelry inlaid with mother-of-pearl, pearls and boxes with sets of backgammon, water pipes, scarves, lamps, thin bottles of perfume. Visitors can even hear camels singing and dancing. Khan el-Khalili is primarily famous for its unusual medieval atmosphere, which, together with the labyrinth of streets located, will provide shoppers with a lot of shopping fun and a glimpse into ancient times. Cafes, restaurants, shops and a large number of sellers and buyers represent a dynamic panorama of the city. Local food and drinks, as well as a pleasant social experience, help to get a real taste of the metropolis. Khan Al Khalil is a place where art and commerce come together, giving a unique, wonderful and harmonious experience to its customers.
After visiting the Egyptian Museum, we went to Khan al-Khalili, the largest market in Africa. Today it is more geared towards tourists, but still, plunging into the very heart of Cairo (without the close surveillance of security guards) was incredibly interesting.
We were dropped off near the Al-Hussein Mosque
The Sayeduna Al-Hussein Mosque was built in 1154. It got its name in honor of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad Hussein ibn Ali, whose head, according to legend, was transferred to a mosque in Cairo in 1153 and for whose storage this sanctuary was built.
In addition, the mosque was founded on the cemetery of the Fatimid caliphs (I talked about them while walking around Fez -), which gave it the status of one of the holiest Islamic places in Cairo. The mausoleum of 1154 has survived to this day.
The current building was built in the 19th century in the neo-Gothic style. In addition to the head of Muhammad's grandson, the mosque houses several other holy Islamic artifacts, including the first complete manuscript of the Koran (the oldest).
As we can see, people are partying in large numbers. Let's take a little walk too.
Khan el-Khalili is surrounded by a huge number of mosques. Here we see two more - Abu el-Dahab and the famous Al-Azhar
Like the Sultan Hassan Mosque, Abu el-Dahab was initially built as a madrasah, and in style imitated the Sinan Mosque in Bulak (a suburb of Cairo). This is the fourth mosque in Egypt built in the Ottoman architectural style.
I especially like the Katkhuda minaret here, with some bizarre shapes a la pots on top)
Unfortunately, as we see, two of the three minarets of the Al-Azhar mosque (the double minaret of al-Ghuri, Quaytbay and Akbakkhawiyya) are under restoration, and at the moment they have a very, very sad look...
Al-Azhar is the first mosque in Cairo (since called the "City of a Thousand Minarets"), built in 970. It was built by the fourth caliph of the Fatimid dynasty, Abu Tamim Ma'add al-Mu'izz Lidinillah (after whom the central street of Cairo Mu'izz, located nearby, is also named. We, alas, only managed to walk along it very partially, and I warmly recommend this opportunity to everyone devote much more time to it). It was during his reign that Fatimid forces under the command of Jauhar a-Sakali conquered Egypt and founded the new capital of the Caliphate, al-Qahira (Cairo).
I can talk about the mosque for a long time, but I don’t want to bore the grateful reader. We go out to the Sultan al-Gkhuri complex, consisting of a madrasah, khanqah, mausoleum, mosque and sabil-kuttab, and go, in fact, to the al-Khalili market.
Domes and minarets continue to accompany us)
The first minaret and dome is the complex of Sultan al-Ashraf Quyatbey, considered one of the most beautiful and complete works of Mamluk architecture (it is also depicted on the Egyptian one pound banknote)
Photographs here stubbornly defy. This is just some kind of Egyptian curse)
Moreover, on this day it was even quite sunny and without much smog...
What amazing houses here
A kind of unique levent - art deco
There are also more “traditional” houses.
For example, we saw many of these in the Jewish quarter of El Mlah in Fez -
Traders at El Khalili Market
We were offered to eat here at the Egyptian "pancakes".
They had nothing to do with pancakes, but the puff “malavakhs” with cheese were extremely tasty. We washed it all down with traditional Arabic coffee (photo of a local handsome guy is attached)
In a nutshell about the market - in the original there was a mausoleum of Turbat az-Zafaraan (the grave of Saffron), and the Fatimid caliphs were buried here. This place was also part of the Great Eastern Palace complex. In the 14th century, Sultan Barkuk destroyed the cemetery and mausoleum, and erected a caravanserai (Khan) in its place.
El-Khalili is often described in literature. One of the books by Naguib Mahfouz, the most famous Egyptian writer and the only one to receive a Nobel Prize, takes place here. Khan is also the center of the second book of Neal Stephenson's Baroque series.
Now here, as already mentioned, is the main tourist magnet of Cairo.
They even allow tourists to walk freely here. Which is a little strange, considering that in places much less “popular” and crowded, we walked with guards who did not allow us to even take a step to the right or left.
Finally - some photos of locals
As you can see, they sit calmly right on the sidewalks, and some even have picnics right on the spot)
The children are curiously colored)
People, by the way, are quite modern, despite “Islam”. Girls taking selfies
And they pose for the camera with great pleasure)
At first I was a little anxious - after all, you never know how people will react to trying to photograph them, especially in a country with conservative laws. But I showed them on camera, and the girls were so happy that I was even surprised.
In general, everything is as always. They say one thing, but in reality it is completely different. All the people are friendly and pleasant. What also struck me was that it was like being at the market, but no one was shouting, no nerves. They lure you into stores quietly and politely. It’s not even like an oriental bazaar. I hope they will restore this area (and generally raise the whole of Cairo a little) and it will be even more pleasant and interesting to come here to visit.
When leaving, we drove past the Egyptian Museum again -
Cairo is a dirty, poor, noisy, smelly, overpopulated city... you can list the disadvantages of the Egyptian capital as much as you like, but they all lose their meaning when you get to the Khan El Khalili bazaar.
I have already written that some places in Cairo evoke an irresistible desire to return here again and again. And even among these places, Khan El Khalili occupies a special position. You don’t just want to come back here, you can’t leave here!
Who is Khan El Khalili?
This is a classic Arabian east, a medieval city, exotic, a fairy tale that has become reality. This is the most colorful, most authentic bazaar, occupying several blocks in the center of old Cairo.
Khan El Khalili is one of the main attractions of the Egyptian capital. But what do the sights usually look like? A beautiful ancient building (park, complex, excavations), restored from the foundation to the spire on the roof, stuffed with hidden cameras and signs “do not touch”, “do not take photographs”, “do not enter”, through which tourists with headphones in their ears move in organized groups and iPhones on selfie sticks.
What does Khan El Khalili look like? Several blocks of ancient buildings that have not seen renovation for the last 200 years, in which people live. Between the buildings is a labyrinth of cramped streets crammed with shops, stalls and stalls. Women in burqas and carrying baskets of fruit on their heads move silently along the cobbled alleys. Men in holobeys and turbans sit in their shops on camel hair rugs, and children run barefoot through the streets.
The shops sell spices in bags, handmade tin products, gold jewelry, fabrics and perfumes by the glass. Buyers bargain for every piastre, and sellers smoke hookahs and drink strong black tea from small glasses.
And this is how Khan El Khalili has looked for the last 700 years! Can you imagine this? This is a real time machine. The shoe shine profession is still alive here!
Story
Khan El Khalili was founded at the end of the 13th century. At that time, it was one caravanserai where traders traveling between East and West stayed. Gradually, the caravanserai became overgrown with shops and shopping arcades until it turned into one of the largest markets in the Middle East.
The name Khan El Khalili appeared during the reign of Sultan El Khalili, who built a large warehouse here at the end of the 14th century. In those days, caravans of camels loaded with various goods came to Khan El Khalili every day, traders shared news, made deals, rested with women, traded slaves here and started conspiracies against the government.
It's hard to believe, but today almost nothing has changed. Except that traders began to use cars in addition to camels.
Nowadays
The bazaar is open around the clock. During the day, trading is active here, and, as expected in any eastern market, different quarters of the bazaar belong to different craftsmen. On one street there are tanners, on another there are minters, on a third there are sellers of Egyptian glass, on the fourth there are antique shops, and so on. Part of the market has been attacked by lovers of Chinese consumer goods, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself on the street filled with plastic slippers and cheap T-shirts.
Not all stores close at night, because buyers come here even in the dark. In addition, many people come to Khan El Khalili to sit in one of the local cafes. They are unusually colorful and often consist of chairs lined up right next to the wall of one of the narrow alleys. The menu here includes only soft drinks, oriental sweets and hookahs. Men selling small trinkets and women offering henna designs on their hands make their way among the visitors.
I admit honestly, I am re-reading what I have already written, and I understand that no words can convey the incredible atmosphere, the fantastic energy of this place, where for centuries people from all over the world have been flocking to trade, relax and hit the road again.
If one day you are in Cairo and you only have the opportunity to visit one attraction in this city, I advise you to choose Khan El Khalili without hesitation. You will not see such an east anywhere else.
Well, if you don’t have the opportunity to visit the Khan El Khalili bazaar, but you want to plunge into the atmosphere of the ancient Arab world, then I recommend reading the books of the Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz (they are in Russian), in particular “The Cairo Trilogy”. Naguib Mahfouz describes Khan el Khalili and the life of its inhabitants much better than me!:)
Write in the comments if you have been to Khan El Khalili and what impressions did you have?
There are markets in every country in the world, but only a few of them are a special place for both local residents and tourists. Such places include Khan el-Khalili - the most important trading place not only in Cairo, but throughout Egypt. Here you can buy everything you want and even more.
Description and history
Cairo's Khan El Khalili Market was founded in the Middle Ages by Emir Karkas El Khalili. At the moment, this place is the largest street trading platform in Egypt and the entire Middle East - its area is about 5 thousand square meters. m. The market is located in the area of old Cairo, not far from it is the Al-Hussein Mosque.
The first mention of this bazaar is found in sources in 1292. At that time, Khan el-Khalili was essentially a caravanserai - a trading place where shopkeepers could have lunch and relax after a hard day. Historians associate the modern name of the bazaar with the name of the warehouse built here in 1382. At the beginning of the 16th century, the market was rebuilt, and since then there have been narrow winding streets of tanners, furniture makers, minters, coppersmiths, silversmiths, and spice sellers.
Today Khan el-Khalili is a place revered not only by tourists, but also by Egyptians. People come here not so much to shop, but to fully immerse themselves in the unique atmosphere of an oriental bazaar with its exoticism, noise, smells and variety of goods on offer. Whenever you come to this place, it will always attract you with the brightness of colors and the noise of a medieval Arab city.
What to buy in Khan al-Khalili
The Khan el-Khalili market, despite its relatively small size, is distinguished by its enormous trade saturation. The numerous rows of this oriental bazaar are located at a very short distance from each other and, in addition, are located one above the other. The top row forms a kind of second floor.
Egypt's largest market, Khan el-Khalili, combines an amazing atmosphere and the opportunity to buy a variety of oriental goods. This bazaar is famous for its decorative handicrafts. Here you can buy national Egyptian clothing, fabrics, jewelry, as well as dishes, rugs, camel pillows and home textiles of excellent quality. At the market they buy spices, hookahs, Cairo lamps, perfumes with subtle aromas, and various souvenirs - from alabaster figurines to papyrus scrolls.
Among the huge number of alleys of Khan el-Khalili there are small cafes where you can try unusual Egyptian cuisine, as well as drink traditional drinks and smoke hookah. For example, the Fishawi Coffee cafe was opened back in 1773, but it has not closed its doors to this day.
Most shops in Khan el-Khalili have a fixed price for goods. Of course, you can bargain here, but you shouldn’t count on a significant discount - you’re unlikely to be able to reduce the price by more than 10%.
Note to tourists
The Khan el-Khalili market is open late and closes only around 2 am, and some cafes, shops and stalls do not close at all. On major holidays (for example, New Year or Ramadan), the bazaar is fully open until dawn.
While vacationing in Egypt, be sure to visit this amazing place. Only on Khan el-Khalili there is a chance to feel the unique spirit of the ancient Arab city, get a lot of positive emotions and make a lot of useful and pleasant purchases.
El Khalil Hebron, Hebron, a city in western Jordan, at 30 km to the south of Jerusalem, on the Beer Sheva - Jerusalem highway. 43 thousand inhabitants (1967). An ancient glass production center. Leather processing; vegetable processing. Agricultural Center area (vineyards and olive groves). Founded around 1700 BC. e. The oldest name is Kiryat Arba ("Quartercity"). For several years it was the residence of King David .
In 70 n. e. destroyed by the Romans. In the 7th century conquered by the Arabs. At the end of the 11th century. E. was captured by the crusaders, but at the end of the 12th century. it was recaptured from them by Salah ad-Din. From the 16th century until 1918 - as part of the Ottoman Empire, then - Palestine, which was under the British mandate, from 1948 - as part of Jordan. In June 1967 it was occupied by Israel.
Great Soviet Encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .
See what "El-Khalil" is in other dictionaries:
- (Hebron, Hebron; ancient name Kiryat Arba), a city on the western bank of the river. Jordan, west of the Dead Sea. Over 40 thousand inhabitants. Glass production center. Founded around 1700 BC. e. * * * EL KHALIL EL KHALIL (Al Khalil, Hebron, Hebron;… … encyclopedic Dictionary
- (Hebron Hebron; ancient name Kiryat Arba), a city on the western bank of the river. Jordan, west of Dead city. 43 thousand inhabitants (1967). Glass production center. Founded approx. 1700 BC uh... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
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See also the article: Egyptian Islamic Jihad Emblem of the United Forces for the Liberation of Palestine “Palestinian Islamic Jihad” or “Islamic Jihad of Palestine” (Arabic: حركة الجهاد الإسلامي في فلسطين, Harakat al jihad al Islami fi Filastin;... ... Wikipedia
- ((place of) union): 1) a city in the inheritance of Judah with a double name: Kiriath Arba, which is now Hebron (Gen. 23:2; 35:27; Josh. 20:7). X. was built seven years earlier than Egypt. city of Zoan (Numbers 13:23). Egypt reports the age of Zoan. inscription relating approx.... ... Brockhaus Biblical Encyclopedia
- (Arabic Al Khalil, Al Khalil ar Rahman, El Khalil), a city in Israel, 30 km southeast of Jerusalem. Most of the city has been under the control of the Palestinian Authority since 1998. The modern city bears the Arabic name El Khalil (see EL... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Al Mamlaka al Urdunia al Hashimiya), a state in Western Asia. It borders on the north with Syria, on the east and northeast with Iraq, on the south and southeast with Saudi Arabia, on the west and northwest with Israel. In the southwest it is washed... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
Contents 1 Comments 2 Borders 3 West Bank ... Wikipedia