al-Khankah 

is one of the oldest Egyptian cities with a long history.^[2] The name of Khankah is attributed to the Khanqah established by Al-Nasir Muhammad bin Qalawun in the place of the current city. In the year 725 AH, it was called the Syriac Khanqah, and this word means place of worship in the Persian language. It is one of the types of buildings in Islamic architecture that extends the length of stay for people like the Sufis, as it is used to establish religious rituals and housing, as well as teaching religious sciences and doctrines, distorting the name over time to facilitate pronunciation until its name becomes Khanka. The most important landmarks are the new street, Al-Mahatta and Al-Qasimia on Thursday, Abu Murtad Mosque, Al-Ashraf Al-Mahkama Mosque and Mental Hospital.

Here stands the isolated Mosque of Sultan Barsbay, the last of his three mosques; each built in a different style. This mosque (completed 1427) is of the enclosure type and was constructed for the benefit of pilgrims. It has been restored by the CPAM. The exterior is rather plain, the wall set with full-length recesses containing windows. Against the NE wall is an extension
containing the main entrance with a high flat stalactite arch, to the left of which rises the minaret. The first storey has a square section with a
medial window in each side and above the balcony is the second cylindrical storey with intertwined ribbing; the third storey is in the
form of a pavilion. Right of the entrance is the completely reconstructed sabil-kuttab. In the NW fac;ade is a secondary entrance. Inside, the NW riwaq has one arcade, the SW and NE riwaqs two arcades and the
qiblah riwaq three arcades covered by a carved and painted wooden roof. Along the walls is a marble dado while the mihrab is also of
marble and the minbar of wooden panels inlaid with ivory. Beyond al-Khankah the H15 runs into (Skm) Abu zacbal and joins the
HJ. After Abu Za~al the HJ passes al-Zawamll and (20km) Ghitah and arrives at (4km) Bllbays, the chief city of the district in the province of
Sharqiyyah. Here the Dept of Antiquities found a destroyed Temple of Nectanebo II. Just to the NW is the Tell al-Shaghamah where a 19
Dyn. town and fort were located by Petrie.