Tanta Sights and Landmarks Guide, Egypt

  Tanta, Egypt—the must visit sights 

Tanta is a place that is much visited by tourists from all over the world. The three major tourist attractions of Tanta include the Zifta Dam, Tell Mokdam and Mosque of Sheikh el- Said Ahmed el- Bedawi.

Tanta, a short synopsis

 Tanta is the very lively and exuberant capital of Governorate of Gharbiya that lies within the Damietta and Rosetta arms of River Nile. The actual location of Tanta is between Alexandria and Cairo amidst the heart of River Nile Delta. It is among the major commercial centers of the Nile Delta and is a very important traffic unction in Egypt. The land is known far and wide for its textile industries and the cotton-ginning factories. In fact, it is a university town as well with one of the institutes attached with Cairo’s El- Azhar University and medical school concomitant with the Alexandria University. It is also the Seat of the Coptic Church’s Metropolitan. Many people from all over the world come to Tanta to witness its grand mosques. The most valued of the mosques is tribute to Sayyed Ahmed al- Badawi who was a historic Moroccan character. The festival that celebrates his life, called the, “Moulid” is also a major tourist puller.  

There are three major must visit sights in Tanta, Egypt: Mosque of Sheikh el- Said Ahmed el- Bedawi 

This is among the most notable buildings. It was built in the 19th century by Ismail Pasha and Abbas I on the location of a previously existing mosque. The Mosque of Sheikh el- Said Ahmed el- Bedawi stands above the much revered tomb of greatly famous holy man of Egypt and successfully attracts innumerable pilgrims from all over the world. Ahmed el- Badawi was born in the 12th century in Fez and his birthday is very richly celebrated till date. A lot of miraculous cures have been seen to occur at his very tomb.  

Zifta Dam  lies at about 15mi/ 25 km eastwards from Tanta on the River Nile’s Damietta arm. It was built in the year 1903 and has about 50 great sluice gates which are 16ft/5 m wide. It is very much similar to Asyut Dam’s construction and regulates the irrigation needs of Governorates of Gharbiya, Sharqiya and Daqahliya in the Delta’s eastern side.  

Tell Mokdam  lies about 25 mi/ 40 km southeastwards from Tanta and about 6 mi/ 10 km southwards from Mit Ghamr. It is located among the prettiest parts of River Delta, towards the right shore of River Nile’s Damietta arm. Tell Mokdam is actually a huge rubble-mound that marks the remarkable site of the “Lion City” or the Leontopolis. Tourists come to Tanta to visit this place and marvel at its exquisite grandeur. It is of much interest to the historians and excavators who hope to find potential evidences to their historical doubts here.