Hosh Al Basha, or the Royal Family Mausoleums, is a stunning 19th-century tomb complex in Cairo’s Al-Qarafa district, built by Muhammad Ali Pasha. Blending Fatimid, Mamluk, and Ottoman styles, it showcases over 16 elaborately adorned tombs of royal figures like Ibrahim Pasha and Abbas Helmi I. With its seven domes, colored glass, Quranic inscriptions, and gold-leaf details, the site reflects palace-level Islamic artistry. Once Egypt’s second-largest cemetery after the Taj Mahal, Hosh Al Basha remains a hidden treasure of Old Cairo.
The Royal Family Mausoleums, also known as the Muhammad Ali Pasha Family Mausoleums or the Basha's Yard Mausoleums, is a magical embodiment of modern classical Islamic art that was cultivated over thousands of years across the Fatimid, Mamluk, and Ottoman kingdoms. This hidden gem is a golden Islamic maze of miraculous constructions filled with art and architecture that can shed light on the unmatched level of mastery, luxury, and magnificence of that period.
This magical open-air museum is a golden gate to uncovering the incredible wealth of knowledge, history, and art of this extravagant period featured across all these beautiful tombs that stood against the face of oblivion. Use your time wisely to discover all the incredible treasures found in the heart and epic corners of Old Cairo.
The Royal Family Mausoleums, also known as the Muhammad Ali Pasha Family Mausoleums or the Basha's Yard Mausoleums, are a magical collection of tombs belonging to the Alawite royal family, located next to the Imam Shafi'i Mosque in Cairo. The southern cemetery known as the Qarafa stretches east of Ibn Tulun mosque on the southern part of the Cairo Citadel, on the outskirts of Maadi.
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A group of tombs belonging to the Alawi royal family is located behind the Dome of Imam Shafi'i in Al-Qarafa, and it is called "Al-Nameh". The Al-Basha tombs, also known as "Hosh Al-Basha," are considered the second-largest cemetery in the world after the Taj Mahal in India, which was built by the Muhammad Ali dynasty, the founder of modern Egypt (1805-1848 AD).
The order to build the tombs was made around 1816 AD to be the resting place for the descendants, family, relatives, and devoted servants of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty. These tombs were completed around 1854 AD and are characterized by their architectural beauty, colorful windows, and their enchanting charm, comparable to the beauty of the royal palaces.
They embody a blend of Arab-Islamic and Turkish heritage, which showcases the absolute mastery of the Egyptian builders and artisans. Some of the most famous tombs in Hosh Al Basha include Ibrahim Pasha, Isma'il Pasha, Tusun Pasha, Abbas I, Sa'id Pasha, Ahmad Rifaat Pasha, Ayn-al-Hayat Rifaat, and Mohammed Ali Tewfik.
The majestic mausoleum complex consists of six domes made of three large domes and three smaller ones, all supported by square stone pillars. The tombs are adorned with a variety of intricate engravings and artistic decorations. It was filled with inner courtyards and marvelous chambers which are decorated by enchanting Islamic motifs, precious materials, and colors which has the power to shed their level of captivating luxury.
The entrance to each tomb is marked by a small dome with a hanging brass chandelier. It leads to a large hall with two doors, each leading to a garden within the mausoleum. At the end of the hall, there is a large door that leads into the tomb. The ceilings of the domes are decorated with intricate drawings using gold and colored glass, designed to create a vibrant display with each appearance.
The main façade of the tombs is located on the western side, which has a stone façade with a central entrance. The entrance is flanked by two ribbed stone towers covered with a simple frieze devoid of ornamentation. The entrance is supported by two symmetrical columns made of red granite.
Surrounding the entrance are two stone porticoes with a double wooden door, above which is a straight stone threshold with prominent inscriptions on a geometric patterned floor. The inscription reads "The Tombs of the Royal Family." The façade is completed with a band of decorative stone units arranged in adjacent triangles.
The domes have two facades each. The first set is on the western side and is made of polished stone. It is divided into two sections, with a rectangular entrance in the lower part, featuring a latticed window covered with iron bars.
It ends with a protruding chest adorned with broken-chain ornaments, and the second section is approached by a staircase of six stone steps leading to the current burial area. This section also has two rectangular entrances, each with a latticed window covered with iron bars. The entrances are embellished with Baroque-style decorations.
The second façade of these domes is located on the southern side and is characterized by broken lines. It features a double wooden door and a window opening, as well as two rectangular windows with metal lattice screens. These domes, along with the dome that rises above the main entrance, encompass the burial domes.
Regarding the interior architecture of these seven domes, the first dome, accessed through the door in the eastern side of the entrance, has a lower square shape. It has two lower side windows, each containing parts of the Kiswa of the Kaaba.
The walls of this dome are painted with colorful coatings and adorned with colored and gilded botanical and geometric motifs. The floor of this dome contains the tomb of Sayyida Noor, the mother of Khedive Tawfiq, who passed away in 1883. It consists of three levels, each with Quranic and decorative inscriptions in Thuluth script.
The second dome consists of a lower square structure, and its floor is paved with stone tiles. On its eastern side, there is a narrow-pointed door leading to the third dome. The helmet of this dome is made of stone and covered with a layer of plaster.
On the floor of the third dome, there are several marble structures, the most important of which are four structures. The first is the tomb of Tawson Pasha, the son of Minister Haider Pasha, who died in 1815.
The second is the structure of Amina Hanem, the wife of Mohammed Pasha, who died in 1823. The third is the structure of Fatima Hanem, the daughter of Ismail bin Mohammed Ali, who died in 1834. And the fourth is the structure of Khalil Thabit, who died in 1902.
The third dome is a lower square structure with a floor paved with stone tiles. On its western side, there is a narrow-pointed door connected between it and the second dome. The transitional areas of the dome rise in the form of a cylindrical neck, on which a smooth stone helmet rests. On the floor of this dome, there are several marble structures, the most important of which is the structure of Ismail Pasha, who died in 1825.
The fourth dome is a lower square structure with a floor made of stone tiles. On each side of the western and eastern sides, there is a narrow-pointed door. The western door leads to the corridor, and the eastern door leads to the tombs of the sons and followers. The transitional areas of this dome rise in the form of a cylindrical neck containing twelve windows covered with decorative plaster and colored glass.
Resting on this neck is a dome decorated with a golden color and containing a radiant chandelier. On the floor of this dome, there are several marble structures, the most important of which are two structures. The first is above the tomb of Tawson Pasha, the prince of the Hajj, and the second is inside his tomb within a metal chamber. On its eastern side, there is a door leading to a square space covered by a shallow dome containing nineteen windows.
The fifth dome is a lower square structure with its floor installed with cement tiles. It contains ten marble structures, the most important of which are the structure of Asma' Yakan, who died in 1850, the structure of Aisha Hanem, the daughter of Abbas Pasha, who died in 1853, the structure of Tawhid Hanem, and also the structure of Shams Hanem, the daughter of Prince Ibrahim Pasha.
On each side of this dome, there is a door knotted with a pointed lock, and on the southern side, there is a window covered with a veil of decorative plaster and colored glass. The transitional areas of this dome rise in the form of a cylindrical neck with windows covered with decorative plaster and colored glass. Resting on this neck is a dome coated in green color, adorned with botanical and geometric designs.
The sixth dome is a lower square structure that is identical to the fifth dome, except that the eastern and southern sides are arched, and on the northern side, there is a window covered with a veil of decorative plaster and colored glass. On the floor of this dome, there are eight structures, including the tomb of Abbas Pasha I and the structures of my two sons, Ibrahim Pasha Ahmed, who died in 1856.
As for the seventh dome, it is a lower square structure with its floor installed with cement tiles. On the eastern side, there is a panel with an inscription. The transitional areas of this dome rise in the form of a cylindrical neck, on which a dome identical to the sixth dome rests.
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The area holds over 16 cemeteries carrying Turkish and a hint of Roman Architecture, which are decorated with oil colors and with gold water writing all over the tombs, mentioning Islamic verses from the Quran. The tombs are divided into six parts, which are separated by grand courtyards decorated with marvelous marble containing Islamic writings.
When entering the tombs there is a small dome then followed by a grand hall which carries two colossal gates which carries a long corridor which is decorated with beautiful copper chandeliers with a mesmerizing ceiling filled with gold water writing and colored glass which when facing the sunlight gives a magical array of different colors resembling a heavenly rainbow.
The tombs include the following:
The tomb of Ibrahim Pasha, who was the Governor of Egypt and son of Muhammad Ali Pasha, consists of a three-tiered pyramid structure made of Italian marble. It is entirely decorated with botanical and Arabic motifs in the Islamic style, representing a unified and integrated architectural form. Two epitaphs are placed on top of the tomb: one with poems, praises, and eulogies, and the other with a description of the tomb's owner in Turkish. The Turkish fez in red color is placed on top of the epitaph.
The tomb of Abbas Helmi I, the Governor of Egypt, features three tiers adorned with beautiful botanical and Arabic motifs. On top of the tomb, there is an epitaph written in Turkish, describing the tomb's owner and prayers for him. The Turkish fez is placed on top of the epitaph. The tomb is surrounded by a massive engraved brass fence with geometric patterns.
The tomb of Noor Hanem, the mother of Abbas Helmi I, is one of the largest and most magnificent female tombs in the Imam Shafi'i Mausoleum complex. It measures approximately three meters in length, one and a half meters in width, and four meters in height at the epitaph. It is made of rare alabaster.
The tomb of Ilhami Pasha, son of Abbas Helmi I, has two marble floors adorned with Quranic verses.
The tomb of Muhammad Said Pasha, “The Governor of Egypt”
The tomb of Fathiya Hanem, the wife of Abbas Helmi I.
The tomb of Princess Shams, the wife of Abbas Helmi I.
The tomb of Princess Malek, the wife of Muhammad Said Pasha.
The tomb of Princess Engi, the wife of Muhammad Said Pasha.
The tomb of Prince Ahmed, son of Ibrahim Pasha.
The tomb of Princess Ayn al-Haya, the mother of Muhammad Said Pasha.
The tomb of Prince Tawson Pasha, son of Muhammad Said Pasha.
The tomb of Prince Muhammad, son of Tawson Pasha, son of Muhammad Said Pasha.
The tomb of Prince Mahmoud Tawson Pasha, son of Muhammad Said Pasha.
The tomb of Prince Mahmoud, son of Muhammad Said Pasha.
The tomb of Prince Muhammad Ali, son of Ismail Pasha.
The tomb of Ruqayya Hanem, daughter of Yekan Pasha and sister of Noor Hanem.
The tomb of Princess Zeinab, daughter of Yekan Pasha and sister of Noor Hanem.
Outside these mausoleums, there is a group of tombs for some family members. It is also said that beneath them lie the remains of the forty victims of the legendary Citadel Massacre.
The golden, beautiful Hosh Al Basha is a miraculous marvel that offers everyone the epic chance to witness many enchanting works of art inspired by the rich Islamic heritage that came to life over a thousand years. Everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy a very magical and mesmerizing tour across some of the most captivating examples of Islamic fine art and artworks, exhibiting all the skilled and incredible craftsmanship of modern Egyptians.
During our magnificent Egypt vacation and incredible Nile cruises, everyone will come to live the most entertaining travel experience across the many wonders of Egypt.
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The entire country of Egypt deserve to be explored with its every heavenly detail but there are places that must be seen before any other such as the breathtaking Hurghada's red sea, The wonders of Cairo the pyramids of Giza, the great sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the wonders of Luxor like Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Hatshepsut temple and the wonders of Aswan such as Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, Unfinished obelisk and The Wonders of Alexandria like Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria Library. Read more about the best places to visit in Egypt.
If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD in cash, as for the E-Visa for 30 day you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could also be one of the lucky ones who can obtain a free visa for 90 days. Read more about Egypt travel visa.
Egypt has a variety of delicious cuisines but we recommend “Ful & Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)”, Mulukhiya, “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish, and Kebab & Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.
The best time to travel to Egypt is during the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a little tropical accompanied by a magical atmosphere of warm weather with a winter breeze. You will be notified in the week of your trip if the Climate is unsafe and if any changes have been made.
You should pack everything you could ever need in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
We have been creating the finest vacations for more than 20 years around the most majestic destinations in Egypt. Our staff consists of the best operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort to make you have the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time consultants to fit your every possible need during your vacation. It doesn't go without saying that your safety and comfort are our main priority and all of our resources will be directed to provide the finest atmosphere until you return home.
You will feel safe in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. Read more about is it safe to travel to Egypt.
Wear whatever feels right and comfortable. It is advised to wear something light and comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the terrain of Egypt. Put on sun block during your time in Egypt in the summer to protect yourself from the sun.
The best activity is by far boarding a Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan or Vise Versa. Witness the beauty of Egypt from a hot balloon or a plane and try all the delicious Egyptian cuisines and drinks plus shopping in old Cairo. Explore the allure and wonders of the red sea in the magical city resorts of Egypt like Hurghada and many more by diving and snorkeling in the marine life or Hurghada. Behold the mesmerizing western desert by a safari trip under the heavenly Egyptian skies.
There are a lot of public holidays in Egypt too many to count either religious or nation, the most important festivals are the holy month of Ramadan which ends with Eid Al Fitr, Christmas and new years eve. Read more about festivals & publich holidays in Egypt.
Egypt is considered to be one of the most liberal Islamic countries but it has become a little bit conservative in the last couple of decades so it is advised to avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.
Arabic is the official language and Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand English or at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Professional tour guides, who work in the tourism sector, are equipped to handle visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of all our clients.
The fastest way is a car, of course, a taxi. If you are in Cairo ride a white taxi to move faster or you could board the fastest way of transportation in Egypt metro if the roads are in rush hour.
The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot but sometimes it becomes cold at night and winter is cool and mild. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and the average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
It is the home of everything a traveler might be looking for from amazing historical sites dating to more than 4000 years to enchanting city resorts & beaches. You will live the vacation you deserve as Egypt has everything you could possibly imagine.
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