Southern Iraq
Regions & Cities
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Najaf
Najaf centers on the Imam Ali shrine, a pilgrimage locus surrounded by seminaries and candlelit courtyards.
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Hillah
Near the ruins of ancient Babylon, Hillah offers bazaars, date orchards and museum glimpses into Mesopotamian history.
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Basra
Basra opens onto the Shatt al‑Arab with date palms, dhow traffic, and muddy riverbanks.
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Kufa
Kufa’s Great Mosque and old walls mark early Islamic history; pilgrims and students visit its shrines, while guided walks uncover ruins of nearby Hira and ancient irrigation remains.
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Imam Ali Shrine
Major Shia pilgrimage complex in Najaf containing the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, noted for its gold‑plated dome and courtyards.
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Babylon
Ruins of the ancient Babylonian capital near modern Hillah draw archaeology-minded visitors to city walls, foundations and inscription fragments recovered from Nebuchadnezzar II’s reign.
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Basrah Museum
Basrah Museum collects southern Iraq antiquities-Sumerian, Babylonian and regional Islamic artifacts-displayed in a modern building on the Shatt al‑Arab; researchers and visitors come for archaeology, oil‑era history and exhibits on Marsh Arab culture.
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Borsippa
Borsippa lies near ancient Babylon in central Iraq and preserves the remains of a large Neo-Babylonian ziggurat.
Southern Iraq at a Glance
Local Time
3:09 AM
GMT+3
Population
12,536,877
Best Things to Do in Southern Iraq
Mosque
Imam Husayn Shrine
Major Shiite shrine and pilgrimage complex
Archaeological Site
Ur
Ancient Sumerian city and archaeological site in Iraq
Ruins
Uruk
One of world's earliest cities with Sumerian ruins
Archaeological Site
Nippur
Ancient Mesopotamian religious center and archaeological site
Archaeological Site
Eridu
Ancient Sumerian city, one of the earliest urban centers
Mosque
Imam Ali Shrine
Shia Islam holy shrine in Najaf, revered pilgrimage site
Archaeological Site
Larsa
Ancient Sumerian city with archaeological ruins
Archaeological Site
Isin
Ancient Mesopotamian city and archaeological site of Isin
Archaeological Site
Umma
Ruins of an ancient Sumerian city-state
Archaeological Site
Shuruppak
Ancient Sumerian city on the Euphrates, archaeological site
Archaeological Site
Al-Hira
Ancient Lakhmid city near Najaf, archaeological ruins
Archaeological Site
Girsu
Ancient Sumerian city-ruin, significant for early urban archaeology