Choqa zanbil ziggurat
CHOGHA ZANBIL TRAVEL GUIDE
ChoghaZanbil (also Choga Zanbil/TChogha Zanbil/Choqa Zanbil), a 3000-year-old magnificient temple and the greatest ziggurat in the world is located beside Dez river in a plain near the ancient city of Susa, in Khuzestan,southwest of Iran.
HOW TO GO
It is located more than 30 km far from Shush,and 120 km from Ahwaz. There's no public transportation to ChoqaZanbil.You can choose goiong either by taxi or using the Chogha-Zanbil guided tours.
WHERE TO STAY/EAT
Select Ahwaz or Shush as your base,which there are many different accommodations.
HOW TO VISIT
We prepared a guided brochiure you can download here.
Don't forget to see the 3000-year-old footprint of a child on its tiles!
GETTING AROUND
Visit Haft Tappeh museum (10km) which has many things from Chogazanbil.
WHEN TO GO
All the year but the best time is between September to April.Evening and night is better to escape hot sunshine.Don't miss the wonderful Zigurat's sunset or night scenes.

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CHOGHA-ZANBIL
 represents travel information and guided tours to Chogha-Zanbil from Ahvaz under license of Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization

CHOGHAZANBIL:

bullet.gif (49 bytes) is a Ziggurat,a large stepped pyramidal temple
bullet.gif (49 bytes) is the greatest ziggurat in the world
bullet.gif (49 bytes) is in UNESCO's World Heritage List as the best preserved kind of ziqqurat.
bullet.gif (49 bytes) was the first site registered among 8 Iranian UNESCO WHL inscribed sites.
bullet.gif (49 bytes) was built about 3300 years ago by king Untash-Napirisha,the emperor of Elamite to honor of their great god,Inshushinak,the protector of Susa.
bullet.gif (49 bytes) Elamites were one of the earliest civilizations in the world at the golden age of Mesopotamian civilizations which lived along with the rivers of Khuzestan.
bullet.gif (49 bytes) Choqazanbil complex consists of a large stepped pyramid temple with five stories, and many tombs and palaces made from thousands of mud bricks.
bullet.gif (49 bytes) The main temple is in the center of ancient Elamite city of Dur Untash which was protected by three great walls,two of them still exists.
bullet.gif (49 bytes) was destoryed and sacked by Assyrian king, Asurbanipal in 640 BC.
bullet.gif (49 bytes) was abandoned and then covered with the sands were brought by the river floods.
bullet.gif (49 bytes) became a sand hill (chogha or choqa) like a reverse basket (zanbil or zambil) local people called it Choqa-Zanbil but no one knew what is inside for more than 2500 years.
bullet.gif (49 bytes) was accidently discovered during an oil seraching by British Petroleum in 1935
bullet.gif (49 bytes) is the only ziggurat of its kind can be visited outside of Mesopotamia
bullet.gif (49 bytes) "Even if you're not a fan of ancient ruins,the great bulk and splendid semideset of CZ cant't fail to impress... ",LonelyPlanet-Iran 
Choga Zanbil at night


more photos

CHOGHA-ZANBIL TOURS
Here you can plan your enjoyable and comfortable trip with our cheap tours
Experience ChoghaZanbil's wonderful night with us!
CHOGHA
ZANBIL
AT SUNSET

in half a day
From $12 		Find yourself alone with the whole ziggurat and experience wonderful Ziggurat's night in our 5-hour trip from Ahwaz before every evening.
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CHOGHA
ZANBIL
ZOOM

in a full day
From $20 		Rediscover every corner of the unique architecture of the eternal mud-brick city of DurUntash ,the dramatic Elamites representer
susa.jpg (1944 bytes)
CHOGHA
ZANBIL
AND SUSA

in a full day
From $20 		Explore the most attractive -but forgotten- Iranian sites of Susa ,Haft Tappe and Chogha Zambil,scenes from 6000 BC until now.
ALL TOURS INCLUDE:
* mineral drinks
* air-conditioned car  
* free pick up and drop off
* admission fees,CD & printed information
* English Speaking driver/guide Officially licensed from Iranian Heritage & Tourism Org

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