Ancient pharaohs used solar alignment, that falls on December 21 every year, to mark the beginning of winter solstice -- an astronomical event that occurs in the northern hemisphere marking the longest night and shortest day of the year.

The solar alignment at the God Amun sanctum at Karnak, one of the country's most popular tourist attractions, coincided with the illumination of his sanctum at the Hatshepsut's temple near the Nile town of Luxor.

The sun, also, illuminated the holiest part of the Karun Palace temple at dawn, a rare astronomical phenomenon that happens twice a year.

At sunrise, the sun sent a beam of light onto the sanctum of the ancient site in Fayoum, south of Cairo, lighting the sacred room for a short period of time.