Tourists return to Iraq for the first time since the 2003 war and take in the treasures of Baghdad's cultural history. Photo Credit: Wiki

March 21, 2009, (Sawf News) - Tourists return to Iraq for the first time since the 2003 war and take in the treasures of Baghdad's cultural history.

Eight Western holidaymakers -five Britons, two Americans and a Canadian -- arrived in Iraq on March 8 and have toured many of Iraq's major historic sites, including the Biblical city of Babylon, fabled home to the Hanging Gardens.

Iraqi tourism officials hope their visit will herald a new era of antiquities tourism in a country known as the cradle of civilization.

Baghdad, located on river Tigris, dates back to the 8th century. It is the largest city of the country and the second largest Arab city after Cairo.

Baghdad attractions:

Named here are only few of the attractions of the city.

Zubeida: It is the tomb of Harun's wife Zubeida, built in about 1200, located in Kerkh (west bank of the Tigris).

Sheikh Maruf Shrine: It is a small shrine with the remains of a holy ascetic-Sheikh Maruf- who died a few years after Harun. It has undergone many restorations with the last one being in 1974 by the Mudir el Awqaf (Ministry of Religious Endowments).

Khorasan Gate: Also known as Bab el Wastani.

Khadimain: One of the most important monuments of Iraq. Originally built in AD 799, it has a huge gilded dome on a circular drum, four minarets and canopied balconies. It is the tomb for Imams Musa and his grandson Mohamed Jawad.

Climate:

Baghdad has a hot arid climate which in terms of maximum temperatures is one of the hottest cities in the world. In the summer from June to August, the average maximum temperature is as high as 44 °C (111 °F) accompanied by blazing sunshine. Due to the low humidity (usually under 10%), on account of Baghdad's distance from the marshy Persian Gulf, dust storms from the deserts to the west are a normal occurrence during the summer.

In the winter, from December to February, by contrast, Baghdad has maximum temperatures averaging 15 to 16 °C (59 to 61 °F). Minimum can indeed be very cold: the average January minimum is around 4 °C (39 °F) but temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) are not uncommon during this season.

Baghdad may not become a hot tourist spot anytime soon but the curiosity of its recent past and the rich heritage will not keep world citizens away for too long.

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