Kharga

Kharga, also spelled El Kharga or Al-Kharga, is a town and oasis in the New Valley Governorate of Egypt. It is the northernmost and largest oasis in the Western Desert and serves as the administrative center of the Kharga District. The oasis sits in the arid landscape of the Western Desert, with date palms and irrigation networks fed by groundwater from Nubian sandstone aquifers. Agriculture focuses on dates, vegetables, and cereals, supporting local communities and a small export trade.

Historically, Kharga has been inhabited since ancient times and was a stop on caravan routes linking the Nile valley with oases to the south. The area contains a range of archaeological remains from Pharaonic, Graeco-Roman, and Christian periods. The Hibis Temple, a well-preserved late-period temple dedicated to Amun, is among the notable monuments located near Kharga. The oasis also has cemeteries and ruins from earlier settlements.

Today, Kharga combines agriculture with growing tourism linked to its desert landscapes and archaeological sites. It is connected by major desert roads to Cairo and other Egyptian cities, and air access is available via nearby regional airports serving the New Valley.

See also: Hibis Temple, Dakhla Oasis, New Valley Governorate.