Al Azhar Mosque

Located in al Hussein square, Al Azhar mosque was built in 969 by Jawhar al Seqelli the army commander of Al Muez le din Allah al fatemi, during his building of Cairo. It is named Al Azhar to honor Fatema Al-Zahraa the daughter of the prophet Mohammad (pbuh). It is connected to Al-Azhar university, the oldest university in the world which was essentially built to be a study place for shiite students. By the passage of time, the Shiite sect was overshadowed and nowadays Al-Azhar is considered by most Sunni Muslims to be the most prestigious school of Islamic learning, and its scholars are seen as some of the most reputable scholars in the Muslim world. Al azhar independence from the power is essential to prevent any abuse or twisting of the religion.

Al Hussein mosque

Al-Hussein was the son of 'Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law and the fourth and last of the caliphs. After his father was assassinated, Hussein was urged to claim the caliphate, but he was killed at the Battle of Karbala in Iraq in 680. A head believed to be Hussein's was brought to Cairo in 1153 and a shrine was built for it on the site of the mosque. It was entirely rebuilt under the khedive Ismail in 1873.

El-Fishawi Cafe

El-Fishawi Cafe is quite an experience. It is located right next to the Khan el-Khalili on Al-Badistand street, which is one of the main streets running through the Khan. Ask any person you meet when you are in the Khan and they will tell you how to get there.

They offer all sorts of drinks and small snacks. If you are looking for tea, they have two types. There is the Egyptian tea, which is a dark flavor filled tea and for those who like coffee there is "ahwa", which is a type of Turkish coffee popular in Cairo. Drinks are usually between 50 piasters and 1 Pound, or 12 to 50 US cents. If you are not sure what to get all of the cafes offer Lipton tea and it is called "shai ala bosta"...tea for the postman.
As well as tea there are traditional Egyptian sweets and side dishes. You can get salads for 3 Pounds, little meals for around 6 Pounds and main dishes are between 10 and 20 Pounds.
To add to food and drink many locals get a shisha (a water pipe). These usually run between 3-5 Pounds. They come in a verity of flavors such as peach, mint, strawberry, and apple. My personal favorite is the apple. Smoking a shisha is very smooth; the first time you do it you will probably think that you inhaled little to no smoke. However, when you breathe out to complain about how little you got, you will usually see quite a bit of smoke come out. Don’t forget that currency rates are changing all the time, so prices may be very different when you go.
This is a cafe where you can relax and watch the rest of Cairo walk by. I have spent many evenings here talking to Egyptians about politics, life, and the country that many of them love.

Transported through time

Hustle and very narrow alleys .. talking .. voices high in all languages! And faces from around the world! Many colors and fragrances and perfumes overlapping! Thousands goods greets you on the aspects of cutting roads that lead to all of Khan Khalili ! It is one of the most famous markets in Cairo, perhaps best known to all of us as well as all the major tourist attraction. Urging and even within the Khan mind feeling that you moved over time to visit the old and markets historical Within this place hundreds of shops and called it is characterized by the Khan bazaars in one type of merchandise, but diverse in almost devoid of goods or gifts needed by the tourist shops, there by the gold and silver handicrafts, clothing, and sold carpets and perfumes and hand Perfumery and leatherware and small statues and Alsobh contracts and jewelry made of precious stones When the little stones Khan Khalili must remember handicrafts special engraving on metals such as copper, wood or coincidence. Khan located in the heart of historic Cairo Faihdh from the South Street essence commander, and the West Street goats to the religion of Allah Fatimid, and the Middle scene Husseini, either from the north falls fish market, which includes the Khan nearly 232 pregnancy on an area amounting to about 30000 meters. The first thing that distinguishes Khan Khalili is sealed floors in some streets in black stone Basalt others beautiful and unusual divides Khan, which is square to the so-called great quarter or Allbeckih which unite forms and Islamic inscriptions in the form of a half circle is mostly oriels and some rises or fall on the other and can ups and downs through a few degrees. when moving within the Khan discovered that the narrow streets barely wide enough for the passage of two or three neighbouring countries in calling on vendors of goods, but to offer tourists entering the assignee which does not exceed an area of mostly two meters to watch * goods . Good seller certain foreign languages and thus can deal with different nationalities visiting Khan. Prices but is the merchandise Khan Khalili exaggerated? Appear to be slightly elevated, but the seller warranted Balvsal endless even foreign tourists Mohsin Munir says shop owner Bakhan that foreign tourists have become too osteoarthritis from its previous status and thus forced to raise the price of the product until we reach the appropriate amount due to tourism, which advises companies Guides need foreign workers by osteoarthritis and dub them as vendors Bakhan greedy merchants. It also indicates that there is another big problem is the invasion of Chinese goods to the Khan Khalili! Which had heavy losses and closed a number of workshops especially those manufacturing products grenade. When I asked him: Why develop and sell Chinese goods in the locality? He replied that it had to in order to achieve a market gain. Most tourists and visitors to the Khan of the Spaniards and this was confirmed by us with a number of vendors who indicated the need for such language proficiency of the large number of whom use and Mahmoud and conspiracy. Within one of the many workshops, which are said to number up to more than 500 workshop sat happy with the randomness snapshot of copper, and told us they called Sdr borne by planting and working with Said profession engraving on metals for 20 years has his father this Languages workmanship, which now also said to us, and starts learning engraving on metals through learning small pieces of copper and then cut more are drilling through Alchukoc and pen must determine engraving through engineering charges are accurate example b Albergl and Procedure according to the format required by the also determines the duration of action of up to three days in one piece. told us that happy with Artisanal engraving on metals less every day because they are unprofitable at the present time and no demand for those products, as well as shops and workshops pay exorbitant taxes unpaid in sales! When evening comes in Khan Khalili increasingly visible colors with lighting shops abound numbers of visitors especially the Arabs who prefer to walk at night in Cairo, as well as foreigners who fill the cafes and drink bubble in abundance. And can not overlook when talking about Khan was one of the places inspired the great writer Naguib Mahfouz, who was sitting on the Al-Fishawi cafe, which purports to watch thousands corner Naguib Mahfouz, which became part of the history of this place. In contrast to the Khan from abroad and Zhamh and drowning in the tournament and history has been the opening of a new business within the Khan is a Muslim designed for this historic place, but it seems that he was still new and unknown to many visitors Khan

Secrets of 600 in Khan Khalili

Secrets of 600 in Khan Khalili Despite the passage of 600 in the creation of the Khan Khalili in Egypt but the architecture is still speaks of history since the Mamluk era, and you feel it moving witchcraft and mystery envelope surprised Due to perfection. «Khan Khalili» is smuggled favorite thousands from all over the next two and lower Egypt to attend the Cairo s if we take time to back often will preamble of the Arab famous «El», which says that the Khan takes a large square building and destroying resembles Agency include ground floor shops, which includes the upper layers stores and homes and called by that name in relation to the institution of Baneh Sharif «Khalili» a large traders in the era of Sultan plum in 1400.
If the trip started with me in the Khan al-Hussein Mosque, one hand you will find a cafe «Crown blessings» by him since there were two hundred of wooden plate painted red nails black large installed written above (Khan El Khalili). Before beginning the tour in the old neighborhood, we must learn that there is what is the most enjoyable of roaming on foot inside the alleys and discussion of the need to be lifting Algazha Valazgah monolithic Khbat held stone and earth floors monolithic black workers and the market-roofed timber challenge of time and erosion, sneak it Many shops are filled with some galleries and antiques rare treasures and skillfully made. Each time during the tour in the old Khan has tried to discover architectural philosophy should fall eyes of the remaining Mcherbyat onto the street or warm and Asplh pretty busy and copper tiles and basins where water was thirsty and Troy Passerby time that he was. In the past, foreign tourists and the Arabs buying gold and silver and copper, which form the distinctive reputation in the Egyptian heritage and now it has increased the water pipe (bubble), which became one of the most famous products Khan Khalili and password through the narrow alleys of Central crowdedness of legendary people, places wood stacking owners of the cafes during Ajtmabk even relive probed comfort cubicle which some drinks with Eastern water pipe Sttnahi to hearing words of welcome Egyptian amusing and offer you a vendor of various types including rosaries sowing olive tiles, plastics, called «Nur morning» and some belong to a platoon turquoise, coral and Amber, which is made from the wood Sandalwood The most famous is presented to women who contract it hanging from «appointed Horus
Inspired «Khan Khalili» is one of thirty-eight market days Mamelukes were distributed on the main Cairo and is located exactly Khan old city center over the graves Righteous Decorative previously. The goats of religion God has evoked him Kairouan three of his predecessors coffins and buried in the cemetery where burial is also his successors Khalili has ordered the transfer of graves elsewhere and the establishment of market traders. And the manner in which the goods are displayed in Old Cairo and persist even now through adjacent markets and shops that fill Alleyways and offering the same goods at varying rates and the like always ongoing exhibition of various goods which offers an opportunity for buyers to select and choose what it wants to get the better of each type and color of gold, diamonds and silver to the papyrus bearing the words shape and Amulets and icons, even the most beautiful poems spinning the story of love between PHARAONIC «Isis and the Azores», which demanded by foreign tourists.
During the tour attracts your overlapping colors and inscriptions in clothing stacking shopkeepers kind of supply and temptation and its works of art rarely exist to remember days Cairo was a great trade center in the Middle Ages bring goods Far East and send in various routes in the Mediterranean, this is the golden age of trade spices with the country of India and Sindh in the sixteenth century transferred to the Khan Khalili market strangest in the history of Old Cairo and modern slave market, which is known reputation in the East and the West and described as a traveller of the most important markets confused all nationalities. But if you want to meet rebels youth in his twenties and thirties especially the youth Azhari you visited Cafe «Al-Fishawi», which reflects the genius of the place and it brings together the rebels to measure their movements Revolutionary Army against British occupation of Egypt green tea drinkers who are infamous for this coffee shop, and later added a game «domino».
The «Al-Fishawi» when the Second World War cache collective lovers ensure Now, after years, which exceeded the 200 and was a meeting place of kings and presidents that were leaders including «Eugene» Empress of France during her visit Kedive Ismail to mark the opening of the Suez Canal and is now a meeting place for thinkers, intellectuals, the most prominent of the Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. Again continue to stroll in the Khan amid Hawwanith full of other collections and sell precious stones that had a particular market Balmosqui but now settled in the Khan Khalili because of the different customer says traders shopkeepers and shops in the Khan. During the tour picks up scent attracts beautiful swim in the air in the direction of Khan Street basis where much trade perfumes Arab, Asian and European countries such as amber and Jasmine, Jasmine hundreds of bottles of shapes and colors and Western containing Attora unfamiliar colors differ between oil shale in color crude oil and golden yellow and violet mixed hot and called b «Alasans», which are manufactured perfumes global him in the words of one traders who adds that this is the actual Turkbih perfume without adding alcohol. The incense has its own kingdom in the Khan are imported from Sudan and incense lute imports from Saudi Arabia believes that people smoke Almcetkh prevent eye and coriander were either envy is the leader of the Kingdom of incense and called the name of the people (and jaw Alvkok) any smell that goes by the contract Blardjah.

Khan AL Khalili Story.

Khan Khalili - love and passion!!!
EGYPTIAN place genuine fragrance smells from the Egyptian inherent time. Old can not place indelible time or change features Incense, perfumes and fragrances history and narrow alleys and small shops wonderful Al-Fishawi coffee and fill the old Arabesque On the state of love and passion for this place.
Jharks Khalili Khan Khalili holds the title of proportion to the Sultan Jahrks Khalili one Circassian Mamluk Sultans, which he founded in 1382 AD, or for more than 620 years on the ruins of the Righteous Decorative graves in Egypt, which was known as «Crocus soil» had this soil fees and dividends are keen on each Righteous Arts in terms of visit and left it and charitable giving days Fatimid caliphate.
Khan Khalili located in the street parallel to the street to the religion of [Moaz Ledine Alah Fatimi].

There the two months are Islamic mosques Egypt-Azhar mosque, which was built in the Fatimid, and the Al-Hussein Mosque, which enjoys great prestige in the hearts of Egyptians who have the sympathy of great concern to force home a prophet. Khan Khalili, characterized by frequent number taverns adjacent to each other in the vicinity of high affinity sold by every wish of tourists in Cairo bought from antique replicas Pharaonic professional and highly accurate, via collections copper and Arabesque, which would kidnap eye when it falls, the end gowns.
The suit eastern dance, which attracts tourists from all nationalities for the acquisition of one or more shops and silver, which includes the finest of all the silver that will not be found only in the Khan Khalili and enjoys strong popular Arab tourists and foreigners.
Manufactures leather and brass has a place dedicated to the Khan meant not only tourists, but it is one of the purposes of working in the area of representation of attending to Khan for the purchase of clothing and accessories historic show in the historic business Calceov and brass helmets and belts. Prices of these products vary depending on the size of the existing labour and raw materials manufactured and starting from 20 pounds and up to thousands of pounds. And tourists can buy any wish of gifts as style and potential.
Return to the founder Khan .... Who is Jharks Khalili?
Jharks Khalili was one of princes Sultan Zazahr Brkkouk, rounded him; and carries the title of "Prince of Akhur." The Prince Jharks Khalili not known love of Vatmyin, cemeteries have been destroyed and the building Balzafran place Khan Khalili, who still know his name so far; which remove the Sultan Ashraf, in turn,
In the spring of the first year 917a.h. (1511)A.D., and established a standing stores and agencies and entertainment for traders.Now
We return to Khan ............. to eat Kabab in the Aldhaan and then rice milk from Maliki.
When you hunger during curfew in the Khan Khalili You can go to a restaurant «Aldhaan», which is the assignee months provide dishes Kabab and Alkovth in the Ancient Egypt are located in front of Al-Hussein Mosque is crowded and large, both Egyptians or Arabs and foreign tourists. After the deal
The meal you have the opportunity to take the dish of rice milk in place of or Alaashoura «Maliki» located in the region for more than seventy years, and enjoys considerable renown in various regions of Egypt. But if you want to «habs» eating also says the Egyptians to grasp the significance of the food.
Could move to Al-Fishawi cafe famous for green tea drinking mint, which is famous by the voice of a woman singing tones Arab Umm Kulthum. It is noteworthy that Al-Fishawi is one of the most cafes Egypt, in the past a gathering of the elite community of artists, intellectuals and writers like Mr. Darwish, Salamh Hijazi, Hafez Ibrahim, Zakaria Ahmed and Altonsse Bairam, the group was led by Alharravish writer Naguib Mahfouz, who was one of those lovers of the region until he wrote A novel full discussion events and bore the name «Khan Khalili».