Qasr Kharga, 86 meteres (275 feet) above sea level, became the capital of Kharga Oasis during Islamic times. It is located in the center of the depression and it is the hub of the New Valley. In Qasr Kharga there is the Kharga Archaeological Museum, that gathers archaeological finds from Dakhla, Kharga and Farafra. It is situated close to the Tourism Office, along the main street Sharia Gamal Abdul Nasser. The ticket price to enter the Museum is 60 EGP.The Mabrouk fountain, near to the Tourism Office, was created by the local artist Mabrouk. The large breasted woman symbolises Egypt: she is dragging her reluctant child, symbolising the people of Egypt, behind her to a new destiny. The statues are made of cement, alabaster and gypsum. The suk is the traditional market of Qasr Kharga; it mainly serves the local population, therefore tourists can admire there the local culture. The original village of Qasr Kharga, called Darb el Sindadiyya, was built around Ain el Dar, a now dry spring. The village is one of the best preserved fortresses in the New Valley oases. It is characterised by narrow and covered streets, in some places only a meter wide, that kept invaders mounted on horses or camels out of the village. The houses with no windows formed walls impossible to be scaled. Twists and turns of the narrow streets served to make the invaders get lost. Already at noon, oil lamps were necessary to light up the passages, but the darkness provided fresh shade from the brutal desert sun. A local guide is recommended to visit the interior of Darb el Sindadiyya in order to not get lost (Vivian 1990).
