Karaj is a city located in the Central District of Karaj County within the Alborz province of Iran. It serves as the administrative capital for the province, the county, and the district. The area has a long history of inhabitation, with archaeological evidence dating back to the Bronze Age at Tepe Khurvin.
The city was developed during the rule of the Safavid and Qajar Empires, and it currently houses various historical buildings and memorials from those periods. Karaj is characterized by a unique climate supported by natural resources, including rivers, green plains, and numerous trees. Due to its status as the largest immigrant-friendly city in Iran after Tehran, it is often referred to by the nickname "Little Iran."