Khan El Khalili
Khan El Khalil is the
spacious market in the core of Old Cairo. It is a huge mash-up of new and old,
from hundreds of years of Islamic architecture to modern conveniences. This
historic market or Bazaar has legendary status among Cairo's many must-visit
places. It is located in Cairo's central district and attracts both residents
and tourists.
Khan El Khalili,
Egypt's most lively market, is among the most famous stops on trips in Egypt.
In this article, you will find what fascination this Khan El Khalili bazaar
holds.
In the 14th century,
Sultan Barquq established Khan El Khalili as a shopping store (Khan).
Initially, this was just one building with some merchants and merchandise to
sell and buy. Afterward, the descendants of sultan Barquq established more such
buildings that enhanced the trading there. This place slowly became a huge
trade center for most of the world's merchants and buyers.
Now, this is among the
most visited places on earth, and tourists always want to make a trip around
this place.
Although if you don't
like shopping, roaming around Egypt's most ancient Khan El-Khalili bazaar is
indeed a journey not to be overlooked.
Like many other traditional bazaars,
Khan El-Khalili was once split into sections based on its goods for sale. This
encouraged a competitive spirit among merchants because buyers could negotiate
a deal from one shop to the next. Presently, this has slipped back slightly,
and the personal backstreets offer a greater variety. Le Riad Hotel de Charme is the best hotel that is situated in the
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So, what do you want
to explore in Khan El Khalili?
Aside from the busier
parts of the market, you'll find vendors selling excellent quality leather
goods. The leather is smooth and soft, and purses, blazers, and smooth slippers
are reasonably priced.
There are numerous
copper, silver, and brassware merchants. Wall plates, lightbulbs, kitchenware,
and other items are among the many available shapes and sizes. Consider how
you'll accommodate your buying into your luggage, as some items are simpler to
carry than others.
Khan el Khalili
contains Egypt's biggest silver and gold market. For the fashion-conscious
shopper, a whole street of jeweler shops gives hours of discovery. Large stores
that draw residents and visitors are the spot to purchase gold in Egypt. Pendants,
bracelets, brooches, and other small items in both gold and silver adorn the
buildings of the jeweler's shops. Some are artifacts, and others are brand new
or made to order. Ancient Egyptian jewelry and interlocking rings are widely
available and can be personalized. Visitors who negotiate expertly can buy
high-quality items at low prices; bargaining is an important skill here.
There are a few small
places to buy furniture and home accessories for the home on the market's
grounds. The quality is excellent, but the costs are quite high. A large item
is unlikely to be purchased here, but a side table and lovely artwork by a
street artist are.
Hookah water pipes are
available for purchase across the Bazaar. Hookah cafes have long been a part of
Egyptian culture, and gathering with shisha pipes is a popular social activity.
You can purchase a range of Hookahs in Khan El-Khalili, a little more stunt
than others.
Each eastern country
has its distinct rug-weaving custom. Egyptians are distinguished by bright
colors and a profusion of geometric patterns, particularly blocks. Besides
Iranian and Azerbaijani rugs, Egyptian rugs have fewer imprinted designs,
making them suitable for any modern interior.
Egypt's land produces
one of the tastiest spices in the world. Here you will find aromatic herbs and
the best spices that will boost food taste when added. Khan El Khalili has a
vast market for spices, and locals and tourists love to buy spices from this ancient
market. You will find a variety of spices here.
Khan El Khalili is
known to depict the major culture of Egypt, including sparkling bright color
clothes and traditional designs of shoes. You will find long frocks,
embroidered shirts, and pajamas here. Mostly you will see Egypt's traditional
clothes in Khan El Khalili.
Roaming around for
hours in the Bazaar from one spot to the next is guaranteed to leave a traveler
thirsty and hungry. Fortunately, Khan el Khalili and the nearby areas have
numerous Egyptian places to eat.
You will have the
opportunity to eat delicious pizza inside a restaurant. You will be having cold
and fresh drinks anywhere around the food corner. You can eat the traditional
food of Egypt locally available there. Enjoy a cup of tea with your friends
sitting on outside chairs in winter.
Prepare to sharpen
your negotiating expertise there at Khan el Khalili Rates aren't really fixed
in this Bazaar, so bargain tricky or expect an empty pocket. So, coming to the
point, here's the core principle.
● First, inquire about
the product's cost and anticipate paying approximately half the stated rate.
Walk away, pretending to be uninterested in their deal. The real game of
negotiating begins at this point, and the cost begins to fall.
● Before agreeing on a
price, visit a few stores to get a sense of the appropriate standard cost of
the product.
● If the shopkeeper can
offer you an item at the cost you least consider quoted, he will do it, as he
wishes to complete the sale.
● On the contrary, think
more carefully before haggling over a few pounds, which may amount to only a
few cents in your monetary system.
● Handicraft enthusiasts
should thoroughly check an item for structure before purchasing it. Egyptian
tourism strongly recommends against purchasing defective Egyptian handicrafts.
Avoid going to Khan el
Khalili from neighboring Downtown Cairo to stop fighting crazy traffic,
environmental damage, bullying, and frustrations. Take a cab from Tahrir Square
to Midan Hussein for about 5 to10 Egyptian pounds. A taxi will drop you in
front of Al Azhar mosque. Then from that spot, you can wander straightly to the
Bazaar via the underground tunnel.
Egypt is the center of
attention for most of the world's tourists due to its significant history.
Numerous wonders happened back in Egypt that left human being amazed and
stunned. Visiting Egypt will prove to be one of the best trips, of course, but
do not forget to visit Khan El Khalili, the most famous Bazaar of Egypt. You
will regret missing it!