Karbala Province

Karbala Province
It is a holy province that embraces the Shrine of Imam Hussein and His brother Abbas bin Ali Bin Abi-Talib ( peace be upon them),It was reported that its name means the Kor Babel, which means groups of Babylonian villages ,but some recent tellers said, that the name comes from Karb and Bala which means anguish and affliction ,that happened because of killing Imam Hussein, his family and companions in61 Hijri Karbala is about 105 km southwest of Baghdad,it has many districts like Karbal .Al-Hindia and Ain-Altamr .It is characterized by a large number of orchards especially dates, various fruits vegetables, as well as grains ,It is considered one of the most important agriculture areas in Iraq due to its good and fertile soil and abundance of water. As for the most important industries in which arts , handicraft, wooden decorations, the faience titles industry, which was famous for it, the city also known for the manufacture of proud clay bricks and plaster. It depends mostly on religious tourism, where it welcomes many visitors yearly especially in the important occasions, It has millions of visitors annually.

The Religious Shrines in Karbala

Imam Hussain shrine
It is the place where Imam Hussein Bin Ali ( peace upon them) was buried in it after the battle of Al-Taff in 61 AH and many people of Muslims especially Shea come to visit it and get his blessings There is a dome over the shrine with about 37 m height which is covered from up to down with gold ,the dome is surrounded by tow golden minarets consist of about 8024 bricks. The shrine is located in the center of Karbala ,the shrine includes the tomb of Imam Hussein ( peace upon them) and it is surrounded by many graves of his followers who were killed with him like Abrahim Al-Mojab Habeeb Bin Modahir ,Al-Qassim Bin Al-Hassan, the Ali Alakber Bin Al-Imam Al-Hussein( peace upon them).

Al- Abbasid Shrine/The Shrine of Imam Al- Abbas
Imam Al- Abbas Bin Ali Bin Abi-Talib, his mother Am Albaneen , he is known as Abo Al - Al Fadhal and Qamar Bani-Hashim and Al-Alalqami hero for his beauty and braveness p.b.u.them was born in 26 AH and died in 61 AH, ‚he was martyred before his brother Al-Hussein in Al-Taff battle in 61 AH ,it was built on his tomb ,a dome known recently as Al-Abbas shrine ,it is located in the northeast of Imam Hussein shrine about 300 m away the shrine includes Al-Kafeel museum ,which contains valuable antiquities.

Al- Abbasid Shrine/The Shrine of Imam Al- Abbas
Imam Al- Abbas Bin Ali Bin Abi-Talib, his mother Am Albaneen , he is known as Abo Al - Al Fadhal and Qamar Bani-Hashim and Al-Alalqami hero for his beauty and braveness p.b.u.them was born in 26 AH and died in 61 AH, ‚he was martyred before his brother Al-Hussein in Al-Taff battle in 61 AH ,it was built on his tomb ,a dome known recently as Al-Abbas shrine ,it is located in the northeast of Imam Hussein shrine about 300 m away the shrine includes Al-Kafeel museum ,which contains valuable antiquities.

The Shrine of al-Hur Al-Riahi
It is located at the west of province about 5 km away ,he is one of Al-Kufa nobles ,he joined Imam Hussein army and martyred with him in 61 AH .

The Shrine of Aoun Bin Abdullah
He is Aoun Bin Abdullah Bin Jafer Bin Abi Talib ,he was martyred in Karbala with uncle Imam Hussein ,he is son of Great Zainab ,sister of Imam Hussein It is about 10 km away from karbala city ,it is aimed by many visitors , who come to visit Imam Hussein.

The Shrine of the Palm of Imam Al- Abass
It is the place where the palms of Imam Al- Abbas p.b.u.h were cut off his arm, this place was known as Al-abbas palm shrine ,the left and right palms,it is located in the northeast and southwest of Imam Abbas shrine ,These two places became symbolically constructed Shrine.

Al- Zainabia Hill
It is a high place ,close to Hussein shrine this place was overlooking on the battle when Great Zainab p.b.u.her standed there and then she called his brother Imam Hussein p.b.u.h.,the place got her name because of that incident

Husseini Camp
It is located in west-south of Hussain shrine in Al-Mokhaim area in the center of old city, it is a symbol of place where Imam Hussein lived with his companions.

Qatara Al- Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib
It is located at the beginning of the way to Al-Ukhaidir Fortress in Ain Al-Tamar,it is one of Imam Ali miracles ,when he was coming back from Safeen battle Overlooking Razzaza Lake.

The Shrine of Imam Al- Mahdi
It is known as Imam Al-Mahdi Shrine and located on the bank Al-Husseini river from the left side of Bab al-Salalima area at the northern entrance of Karbala it overlooks on Al-Sidr street which leads to Imam Hussein shrine.

The Archeological andTraditional Sites in the Province

Al-Ukaidir Fortress
It is an ancient castle located at the Southwest of Karbala ,about 50 km away and about 192 km away from Southwest of Baghdad ,it is one of most important Islamic archeological sites which is still standing , one of most attractive tourist destinations in the middle east ,It is unique in its elegance and amazing engineering it is got this name because of greenness of the ground above it.

Shamon Palace
It is one of the ancient archeological palaces, one of the historic landmarks in the province, it is about 30 km away from Karbala city on Ain Al-Tamr road . built by Shamon Bin Jabel Allagmi ,one of Christian scholars ,nothing remains of the palace but its pillars which their height is about 15m.

Khan Al-Nakhila
It is one of the archeological Khans in Karbala ,it is about 16 km away ,on the main road of Najaf-Karbala ,it belongs to Ottoman Covenant and it has another name ,Khan Al- Ruba ,It mediates a quarter of the distance between Karbala and Najaf ,it was used to be a rest place for people coming to Karbala.

Al- Razzaza Lake
It is located between Karbala and Al-Anbar ,draws its water from Euphrates , The second largest lake in Iraq, A part from wide valley which contains the lakes of Al-Thirthar, Al-Habania and Al-Najaf sea its total area about 1810 S.Km.

The White Qantara
It was built in 1550 AD during the time of Ottoman ruling ,by Sulaiman Al-Qanoni, it is the most ancient Kantara ,Built by the Ottomans on the land of Iraq .