My Trip to Iraq: Babylon, Najaf, Karbala, Ur, Uruk and the Marshlands

Hi I’m Dee (Danika) and I’m an avid solo female traveler who’s just recently moved back from the Middle East.

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Special thank you to my friends who took me around Baghdad (only shown in the last video clip), Babylon, Najaf, Karbala, Nassiryah (not pictured in this video), Ur, Uruk, and the Marshlands.

All the Iraqi people I have met in both Kurdistan and Federal Iraq occupy such a special place in my heart and I am so grateful for the many friendships I have made while living in Erbil.

‘Checkpoints and Chai’ - My short story about my trip through southern Iraq can be found on Intrepid Times: https://intrepidtimes.com/2024/07/che...

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Some interesting facts about each site...

Babylon:
Founded over 4,000 years ago, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and the one site I had been eager to visit since I moved to Erbil in 2021.
In 1983 Saddam Hussein, apparently imagining himself as heir to Nebuchadnezzar, ordered the reconstruction of Babylon, which is why the walls look like they are in pristine condition, and up close you can see Arabic writing on them where his name is inscribed
On some parts of the wall you can see the famous mushussu creature from ancient mythology in reliefs

Saddam Hussein’s Palace:
Perched on a hill near the ancient city, Saddam Hussein's Palace gives way to an epic view of Babylon and the Euphrates river
Built in the 1980s, it was one of the many grand residences that he constructed during his regime
After the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, the palace was looted and vandalized
This decorated ceiling in the palaces depicts ancient and modern monuments significant in Iraq’s history

Najaf:
Home to the revered Imam Ali Shrine. As one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, it attracts millions of pilgrims each year
The shrine is believed to house the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, which is why the site brings in devout Muslims from around the world
One thing I should note is that you should make sure to have a fully covering Abaya to enter the city, and not to wear excessive makeup (a friend I was with was handed a wet wipe to remove her lipstick)
At first, I was a bit nervous about taking pictures here like I am at most religious sites, and here I only had my phone and not my camera, but once inside I realized how silly that was
All the women crowded around the shrine to take selfies of it while they cried. Of course, I didn’t photograph them doing this, but it did make me feel less awkward to take footage of the inside of the mosque

Karbala:
Karbala is another spiritual heart of Iraq, known for the Imam Husayn Shrine. It commemorates Husayn ibn Ali, whose martyrdom is central to Shia identity
The Battle of Karbala, fought in 680 AD, is commemorated annually during Ashura, drawing millions to the city where some engage in self-flagellation, which I won’t go into detail but you can look that up
For me, coming here was about seeing the intricate mosque in its grandeur, which is hard to even do justice with my videos!

Ur: or ziggurat (ancient temple) of Ur
This ancient Sumerian city is just outside Nassiryah (a 20-minute taxi ride)
Ur is believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, a key figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, linking the city to multiple religious traditions.

Marshlands:
The Iraqi Marshlands, once drained, have been revitalized and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site
They are a haven for wildlife and home to the Marsh Arabs, who have preserved their unique way of life for millennia
That being said, according to my friend who is from the area and took us here, water levels are still not at a sustainable level for the populations that once lived here, therefore many people live outside of the marshes, and only tend to their buffalo or fishing during the day

Uruk:
Our final stop is Uruk, one of the world's first major cities. It is legendary for the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest works of literature.
Uruk was a key player in the development of writing and urbanization in ancient Mesopotamia, paving the way for modern civilization.

Thanks for watching!


Music by raspberrymusic from Pixabay