Tahta is located in the Sohag Governorate of Egypt along the west bank of the Nile. It is well known for being the birthplace of the famous Egyptian writer Refaa El Tahtawy and important religious leader Sheikh Said El Naqshabandy. The city is situated between Asyut and Akhmim and includes many small villages and towns. The major source of economy in Tahta is trade and agriculture and Tahta is also well known in Egypt for its furniture industry.
About Sohag Governorate
Sohag Governorate lies in the southern part of Egypt and covers part of the Nile Valley. Sohag managed to remain the capital of the Sohag Governorate since 1960, before which Girga was the capital city. The Governorate also used to be called Girga Governorate. Some more cities that are a part of the Sohag Governorate include Akhmim, Dar el-Salam, El-Mansha, El-Balyana, El-Maragha, El-Usayrat, Girga, Juhayna, Sakulta, Sohag, and Tima.
Two Famous Monasteries Near Tahta
Two famous monasteries located near Tahta in Sohag Governorate are the Red Monastery and the White Monastery. These two monastic churches are among the richest surviving Coptic archeological sites in Egypt. Parts of these two monasteries date back to the earliest era of Christians. The two churches display a combination of Roman civic, Pharaonic, and Christian architectural styles that are amazing to see.
The White Monastery which is the larger one is made from white limestone and was once used by communities of nuns and monks during the mid-5th century. The Red Monastery, on the other hand, is much smaller and made of red brick. Both monasteries exhibit exceptional paintings and sculptures which belong to the time from the fifth to the fourteenth centuries. The two monasteries were constructed in what was once an arid desert land, and currently, the two monasteries now stand a risk of rising water levels due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam and due to the need of cultivating newer fertile lands in the vicinity that use up water.
More About Tahta
Tahta isn't a popular tourist destination, but due to its proximity to popular cities, reaching it is not very difficult or time-consuming. The total population of Tahta is 90,591. Some villages that are a part of the Tahta jurisdiction are Bani Harb and Nezlt Elkady alongside Banja, El-Sawalem, Sahttoura, and Al-Koum al-Asfar. Famous people who were born at Tahta include Rifa’ael Tahtawi and Naguib Sawiris.
Reaching Tahta
Tahta is close to many international airports, the closest being the Sohag International Airport 79 km away. Asyut Airport is another airport with regular domestic and international flights and is only 95 km from Tahta City.
Tourist Attractions in Tahta
Tahta doesn't have many tourist attractions, but two places that are visited by tourists from all over include Sidi Gharib and Maqam as Sittat al-Ashraf. Maqam as Sittat al-Ashraf is a religious building which is located in Tahta and people come to it to seek blessings of the Almighty. Sidi Gharib, on the other hand, is another place of religious interest made as a tomb and is located just at a distance of 1 km from Tahta.
Bani Ammar in Tahta
Bani Ammar is a village near Tahta where the main job of the inhabitants is agriculture. It was founded in 1809 and is also the origin of an influential detailed scientific description of modern Egypt which was penned by the French Scientists during the expedition of Napoleon in Egypt from 1798 to 1801. 10th April is the national day at Bani Ammar, which is an important date in the history of this city that's been getting celebrated since 1799. On this day, the local people faced the French troupes who invaded under Napoleon. Bani Ammars are people who are believed to have emigrated from the Arabian Island and are close relatives of Juhainas.
