The temple itself was buried in the sand until 1905 and has been iinvestigated and restored ever since. The temple was built in about 8 years, starting in the 8th year of her reign by her architect Senenmut. He was also her steward and courtier and, some have posited, her lover.

The temple is built in three terraces. THe uppermost levels are closed to tourists, but the first and second terraces woiuld have been lined with fountains and trees, and gardens would have decorated the enormous courtyards. In the lower courtyard, the stumps of trees have been found that are 3500 years old. THe current ramp and staircase is a reconstruction, of course, but if you stand on the first second courtyard you can see the faint outlkine of an avenue that reached al the way to the Nile, aligned perfectly with the avenue at Karnak.