Location:
Karbala's name is derived from ancient Babylonian, meaning "sacred place of God." It is one of the holiest cities in the Middle East, home to two commanding shrines, one of which holds within it the Shiite leader killed in Karbala in 680, Husein.
Karbala is second only to Mecca in terms of visits by Shiite pilgrims. Millions make pilgrimages to the city each year to experience one of the most unique sanctuaries in the world. The land is rife with rich history that dates back to Babylonian times, an era in which Karbala was used as a mass Christian graveyard.
The holy city is located 100 km south of Baghdad, in central Iraq. Bordered by the Syrian Desert, Karbala is a trading town with commodities that include religious objects, hides, wool, and dates. The marketplace is adjacent to a spacious public plaza, a tree-lined, park-like setting that expands between the two shrines.
