Karaj كرج
—  city  —
View of Karaj
Karaj
Coordinates: 35°50′08″N 51°00′37″E / 35.83556°N 51.01028°E / 35.83556; 51.01028Coordinates: 35°50′08″N 51°00′37″E / 35.83556°N 51.01028°E / 35.83556; 51.01028
Country	Iran
Province	Alborz
County	Karaj
Bakhsh	Central
Elevation	1,312 m (4,304 ft)
Population (2010)
• Total	2,086,000
• Population Rank in Iran	5th
Time zone	IRST (UTC+3:30)
• Summer (DST)	IRDT (UTC+4:30)
Area code(s)	0263

Karaj (Persian: كرج‎ pronounced [kæˈɾædʒ], also Romanized as Karadj, Karadje, and Karej; also known as Qaşabeh-e Karaj, Heredi, Keredi, and Leredi)^[1] is a city in and the capital of Karaj County, Alborz Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 1,377,450, in 385,955 families, making it the fifth-largest city in Iran after Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Tabriz.^[2][3]) It is situated 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Tehran, at the foothills of the Alborz mountains. However, the city is increasingly becoming an extension of metropolitan Tehran.

Karaj is mostly famous because of its academic and educational complexes along with tourist attractions.

History[link]

The history of Karaj dates back many centuries. The stone built Zoroastrian fire temple of Takht-e-Rostam from the Parthian era is a testament to this.

The Soleimanieh palace (currently housing a college of Agriculture), the mausoleum of Shahzadeh Soleiman, Imamzadeh Rahman and Zeid Palang Abad-e-Eshtehard are other historical relics of the Karaj area.

During the Pahlavi dynasty era, the Morvarid Palace was constructed in nearby Mehrshahr district, designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

Karaj today[link]

Karaj in winter

The economical base for Karaj is its proximity to Tehran, where transportation of products between the capital and the Caspian Sea is central. Chemicals, fertilizers and processed agricultural goods are also produced here.

The majority of the population of the city is composed of ethnic Persians who are natives to the city but there are also a minority of Persianized Lurs, Persianized Azarbaijanis and Persianized Kurds.

It is connected by freeway, railway to Tehran 40 km east and Qazvin 100 km northwest, and by commuter rail to Tehran subway system (Metro).

Amir Kabir dam and small lakes are based here. Karaj's climate is a bit cooler than Tehran and it receives 260 mm of rain annually.

The downtown of Karaj is usually referred to Karaj Square, located hundred of meters to the West of Karaj River and the old Karaj Bridge.

Karaj's major districts include:

• Gohardasht
• Mehrshahr
• Kian-mehr
• Hesarak
• Azimiyeh
• Ouj
• Shahin Vila
• Bonyad
• Baghastan
• Dowlat abad
• Garmdare
• Jahanshahr
• Mesbah
• Mehr Vila
• Dehghan Vila
• Mahdasht
• Shahrake Banafsheh
• Fardis
• Vahdat :One Of the Few Government Worker residential For Raja {Rah - Ahan -E -Iran -} .
• Kalak & Hesar
• Islam Abad
• Golshahr
• Zibadasht
• Zob-e-Ahan
• Sasani
• Homayoonvila
• Asara
• Mohammad Shahr
• Mehdi Abad
• Shahrak-e-Khatam

Karaj Azadi Blvd.   Central Karaj

Special Economic Zone & Airport[link]

• Payam Special Economic Zone & Payam international cargo airport outside Mehrshahr

Higher education and research[link]

Karaj Azad University

• University of Environment
• Karaj Payam Noor University Aerospace Association
• Karaj Payam Noor University [2]
• Islamic Azad University of Karaj
• Art University
• Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources of University of Tehran, located in Karaj
• Center for Research in Agriculture and Nuclear Medicine of Karaj
• Tarbiat Moallem University of Tehran which renamed to "Kharazmi" in 2000. The second campus of the university is located in Hesarak near Karaj, inaugurated in 1986.
• Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute at Hesarak
• Alborz HighSchool (Alborz Colleague)

Sports[link]

Karaj Enghelab Stadium

Karaj has introduced several national players for a wide range of national teams.

Karaj has a multi-purpose stadium; the Enghelab Stadium, with capacity of 15,000 people. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home of football team, Saipa F.C.

Karaj is home to Saipa F.C. one the IPL major Football teams as of 2001. The team is registered in Tehran, but plays its games in Karaj and is called "Saipa Karaj". It is known to have one of the best youth training programs in Iranian football.^[4]

Karaj also have a Tennis Park in Jahanshahr.

The ski resorts of Dizin and Khur are situated close to Karaj in the Alborz Mountains. Besides Skiing facilities in Dizin, there are tennis courtyards, slope for skiing on turf, some altitudes for mountain climbing and walking as well as riding and some routes for cycling.^[5]

The high altitude mountains have made it easy for people in Karaj to use them as mountain trail for hiking and mountain climbing. There are also many private gyms and clubs that are being utilized.

Tourism[link]

Karaj has traditionally been considered as a favorable tourism area particularly for the people from Tehran. Karaj has very has a pleasant climate in all four seasons. It is very famous for the natural attractions. The beautiful Alborz Mountains provide a natural beauty to the landscape of Karaj.^[6]

The stony fire-temple of Takht-e-Rostam belong to Parthians and Sassanian eras, as well as the Soleimanieh palace (which is currently part of the Agriculture faculty of University of Tehran), Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, a pre-Islamic bridge and the mausolum of Shahzadeh Soleiman are among Karaj's cutural heritage.^[7]

Karaj is also the starting point for a pleasant drive along spectacular road forced north through the alborz mountain to the Caspian Sea.^[8]

The following are the lists of some places for outdoors activities in Karaj:

Recreation[link]

Amir Kabir Dam (aka Karaj Dam)

• Amir Kabir dam lake in the road of Chalus. This area is used for sports such as canoeing, fishing, water skiing, swimming and gliding.
• Atashgah
• Khanevadeh Park - biking roads
• Road to Chaloos, which is the most beautiful road in Iran
• Jahanshahr Gardens
• Tulip Garden in Gachsar
• Tennis Park
• Iranzamin Park
• Park of Madar
• Golha Garden
• Mahestan Shopping Center
• Arangeh Valley
• Varian Village; the only means of accessibility to the village of Varian is by canoe from the lake of the dam.^[9]
• Baraghan Village
• Taleghan Gardens
• Taleghan dam lake
• Agasht
• Dizin ski resort at an attitude of 3,800 m. above sea-level in the Chaloos road
• Khur ski resort
• Karaj River, This river is about 220 km in length
• Yakh Morad Cave, the cave is situated in the district of Gachsar. Low temperature within the cave is as such that even till the months of May/June icicles can be still observed here.
• Pole khab valley
• Jey and Charan Villages
• Sijan Village
• Vineh
• Kordan Gardens
• Pich Adran Waterfall, at 15 km Chaloos road
• Wallah spring water
• Gila-gila spring water

Ahmad Shamlou is buried in Emamzadeh Taher

Cultural attractions[link]

A medieval Caravanserai in Karaj.

• Shah Abbasi Caravanserai; The medieval Caravanserai in Karaj
• The stony fire-temple of Takht-e-Rostam^[10]
• Kakh-e Morvarid or kakh-e Shams (Pearl Palace) in Mehrshahr
• Ancient bridge of Karaj
• Ghale' Dehshad (Dehshad citadel)
• Ghale' Faramarz (Faramarz citadel)
• Emamzadeh Taher
• Soleimanieh palace, which is currently part of the Agriculture faculty of University of Tehran
• Emamzadeh Rahman Palang Abad,
• The mausolum of Shahzadeh Soleiman

Transportation[link]

Karaj Special road

Karaj is connected by Highways and railway to Tehran 40 km east and Qazvin 100 km northwest, and by commuter rail to Tehran subway system (Metro). The highway system includes three highways: Tehran-Karaj Freeway, Karaj special road (highway), Karaj old road (Fat'h highway). Tehran-Karaj Freeway (also known as the Autobahn) is the most high traffic highway in Iran.

Roads and freeways[link]

Karaj-Chalus road

Freeway 2

Road 32

Road 59

Photo gallery[link]

See also[link]

Iran portal

• Morvarid Palace
• Mehrshahr
• Amir Kabir Dam

References[link]

External links[link]

• Karaj city portal (Persian)
• About Karaj city (Persian)
• Karaj, Iran, Yahoo! Travel
• The city of Karaj
• Iran Tourism & Touring Organization
• Karaj Magazine (Persian)
• Karaj Background History (Persian)

v t e Alborz Province Capital Karaj Counties and Cities Karaj County Karaj Asara Eshtehard Garmdarreh Kamal Shahr Mahdasht Meshkin Dasht Mohammadshahr Nazarabad County Nazarabad Savojbolagh County Hashtgerd Chaharbagh Golsar Kuhsar Shahr-e Jadid-e Hashtgerd Taleqan County Taleqan Sights Shahabbasi caravansary Shamss Palace Pearl Palace

v t e Karaj County Capital Karaj Districts Central Cities Karaj Mahdasht Kamal Shahr Mohammadshahr Garmdarreh Meshkin Dasht Rural Districts and villages Garmdarreh Bagh-e Pir Combat Engineering Centre Mazraeh-ye Kazemabad Shahrak-e Taleqani Kamalabad Atashgah Darvan Haljerd Khvares Mahmudabad Siah Kalan Mohammadabad Alborz Research Centre Aliabad-e Guneh Damdari-ye Baradaran Jomali Department of Water and Agriculture Farrokhabad Golestanak Karaj Nursery Nazhadubahbudshir Correction Centre Qaleh-ye Rustai Qezel Hesar Sepiddasht Shahrak-e Mohandesi-ye Zerai Soil Fertility Centre Vabzar Veterinary Polyclinic Asara Cities Asara Rural Districts and villages Adaran Abharak Adaran Arangeh Avizar Ayegan Charan Jey Jurab Kalha Kalvan Khur Khuzankola Kondor Kushk-e Bala Leylestan Malekabad Nasht-e Rud Nosratabad-e Khadayar Nowjan Purkan Sar Ziarat Sarv Dar Sijan Tasisat Sadamirkebir Vanesh Varian Varzan Vineh Asara Dardeh Do Khanvari Hameh Ja Kiasar Kiasarlat Laniz Murud Sarak Shahrestanak Shelnak Tekyeh-e Sepahsalar Nesa Asiab Dargah Azadbar Emam Cheshmeh Gach Sar Garmab Gashnadar Gasil Hasanak Dar Kohneh Deh Kushkak Malek Faliz Meydanak Nesa Sorkheh Darreh Valeh Varangeh Rud Velayat Rud Eshtehard Cities Eshtehard Rural Districts and villages Palangabad Ahmadabad Amidi Ghamurlu Industrial Centre Eypak Fardabad Goldasht Hasanabad Jafarabad Jaru Khurdikabad Mazraeh-ye Abdallahabad Mazraeh-ye Anjmin Mazraeh-ye Aruj Ali Mazraeh-ye Bidark-e Bala Mazraeh-ye Fadak Mazraeh-ye Inanluyi Ighmorlu Mazraeh-ye Khorramabad Mazraeh-ye Khurshidabad Mazraeh-ye Kushkabad Mazraeh-ye Mohasses Mazraeh-ye Moradabad Mazraeh-ye Muijeh Khak Mazraeh-ye Mutur Khaneh Shah Bakhti Mazraeh-ye Qazian Mazraeh-ye Rais Mohammad Mazraeh-ye Yek Lang Mazraeh-ye Yengi Kahriz Mehdiabad Mokhtarabad Morad Tappeh Morghdari-ye Kasht va Sanat Doab Naserabad Nekujar Palangabad Qanli Bolagh Qeshlaq-e Daylar Qeshlaq-e Gong Qeshlaq-e Guneh Ay Qowzlu Sehhatabad Shahrak-e Sanati-ye Eshtahard Tolombeh Khaneh-ye Shorket Nafat Yek Lang