Karaj, Provincial capital in Central District, Iran.
Karadj is the capital of Alborz Province and sits in the foothills of the Alborz Mountains, surrounded by farmland and orchards. The city spreads along a river that shares its name, connecting residential areas with industrial zones and parks.
During the Safavid era this place served as a stopover on trade routes linking the plateau with the Caspian Sea. Under the Qajar dynasty the settlement grew into a more important town, later becoming a provincial capital.
The name comes from Persian and refers to a small oasis that once attracted travelers moving between mountains and plains. Gardens with old trees and covered courtyards in older neighborhoods still shape the city and recall this earlier role as a resting place.
The city is linked to the capital by several roads, making it easy for visitors to travel there. Information about public transport and street maps helps with finding your way around different neighborhoods.
Archaeological finds in the surrounding area show evidence of human settlement going back several millennia. These sites often lie away from common routes and are less known than other sites in the country.
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