Tanta

　　Tanta is the capital of Egypt's Gharbia Governorate, located 94 kilometers north of Cairo and 130 kilometers southeast of Alexandria. It is the fifth most populous city in Egypt. The city is the center of Egypt’s cotton ginning industry and a major railway hub in the Nile Delta.

　　Tanta is a well-known university city in Egypt, home to Tanta University, Tanta Islamic Law School, and the Ahmadiyya College affiliated with Al-Azhar University (now renamed Tanta Islamic Institute). The city is a prominent Islamic destination, hosting an annual grand celebration of Mawlid al-Nabi, the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, which fills the city with festive joy. Every late October, the city comes alive during the eight-day cotton harvest festival, as people from the Delta region and other Arab countries gather to celebrate.

　　The Tanta Museum showcases the city’s history, featuring artifacts from the era of ancient Egyptian pharaohs to the present day. Sheikh Ahmed al-Badawi, a prominent Sufi saint, is buried in the city. His tomb was later expanded into a mosque, which has now become a revered "holy site."

　　Tanta Reason to visit: Fifth most populous city in Egypt Continent: Africa【Africa】 Country/Region: Egypt[Egypt] Province/State: Gharbia Governorate [Gharbia Governorate] City: Tanta [Tanta]