The Khan el-Khalili

ByJimmy Dunn

This month I am helping Juergen out by writing the Shopping Review. It seems almost strange that we have not covered the most well known Egyptian market so prior to this issue, but the Khan el-Khalili is exactly that. So well known is it, that most people simply refer to it as the Khan (market).

Most tour groups will probably end up at the Khan, as it is a stated destination of most agendas. Yet this is not just any market, but one of the most historic of any market in the world. Founded by the Emir Djaharks el-Khalili in 1382, this khan was responsible for developing such a stranglehold on goods moving from the Eastern world to the West, that it is directly responsible for the discovery of the American continent. The spice markets in the Khan, a monopoly controlled by the ruling Mamluks of Egypt, forced explorers such as Columbus to find alternate routes for goods coming from the East.

Even today, the Khan el-Khalili is not strictly an Egyptian market, nor is it a a market for Tourists only. Indeed, goods from all over the world seem to arrive here, and amongst its alley ways and off streets, one will find more Egyptian shoppers then tourists, buying everything from American jeans to fine gold jewelry.

Of course, we have several resources about the Khan el-Khalili on Tour Egypt, so we will opt to provide a few address for additional reading and leave you with a few pictures of items offered by at the Khan.