SnapShots - Bashendi

Al Ahram Weekly (Mohamed El-Hebeishy)

Dakhla Oasis is one of the Western Desert's five major oases. Dakhla, a cluster of much smaller oases, might be known for its Qasr Al-Dakhla (Dakhla Palace), a maze of narrow alleyways zigzagging into a full-fledged mediaeval Islamic village. The seemingly complicated labyrinth will take you to a journey back in time, with its ancient mosques, spacious madrasa and beautifully decorated mud-brick houses. But is that all Dakhla has to offer?

Bashandi, one of the small oases making up Dakhla, is a five- minute drive from the famous qasr. A reverent man once came to this small cut-off area, preaching to the people and calling the place home. When it was time and the sheikh died, he was buried in Bashandi. No one recalls his name, but if you want to visit his tomb, you won't get lost. Just ask for the tomb of Al-Pasha Hindi. Now you know how Basha-(he)ndi acquired its name.