This mortuary temple was built by the pharaoh Hatshepsut over a period of 15 years. Hatshepsut is one of Egypt's most well-known pharaohs, in part to the legacy of her 22-year reign as a high water mark of cultural and artistic achievement during the New Kingdom. She is also famous as one of Egypt's female pharaohs who validated her power by posing as a man, complete with a false beard.
This funeral temple has the most unique style of all the temples in Luxor; it is built on the same axis of Karnak Temple, which it faces from the other side of the Nile. This allowed Hatshepsut to demonstrate her piety towards her father Amun, and honor her divine heritage.
Construction was overseen by Senenmut the architect, who was honored by the queen and allowed to build his own tomb in front of the temple. Two of the temple's terraces are built, while the third is cut directly from the cliff.
The reliefs on the temple walls describes the trade expeditions that Hatshepsut sent to “Punt". These agreements allowed Egypt to import trees, incenses, ebony, and different luxurious products. She intended to create a garden in front of the temple, and you can still see the roots of trees in front of the temple walkway.
The temple has been heavily damaged, both during antiquity as well as the toll of the centuries of floods, sands, and time. Extensive restoration has been done by Polish and American archeological missions.
The temple is open every day from 6:00 am to 4:30 pm, and the best time to visit either early morning or late afternoon.
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