Karbala is located in central Iraq, roughly halfway between Baghdad and An Najaf. It is one of the holiest places in Shia Islam and a major pilgrimage destination.
The Imam Husayn Shrine, where Husayn ibn Ali was killed and buried in 680 AD, is the city's focal point. Its golden dome and three minarets can be seen from far away, and millions of Shi'a pilgrims visit each year, particularly during the Arbaeen commemoration — one of the largest annual gatherings of people in the world. A few hundred metres away stands the Al-Abbas Shrine, mausoleum of Husayn's half-brother; the two are linked by the marble plaza of Bayn al-Haramayn.
Beyond the shrines the old city bazaar is worth wandering for prayer beads, dates, and Karbalai sweets, and the secondary shrine at Al-Tall Al-Zaynabiyya gives a quieter view of the golden domes. The city is hot, conservative, and security-conscious — but for any traveller interested in the Shi'a tradition, it is one of the most extraordinary places in the world.