Central Iran - Iran - page 409

The city was originally approached along the Shapur River in the steep-sided Chogan
Gorge (admission US$0.50; 7am-5pm winter, to 8pm summer) . A short walk from
Bishapur, the rocky walls here are home to six large bas-reliefs carved out of limestone.
These commemorate, among other historical moments, Shapur's investiture as king and
his victory over Roman invaders. The deep groove running through the reliefs was caused
by a powerful flood in the 1960s; the groove marks the high-water mark.
About 4km along the gorge is the Tang-e Chogan and its 7m-high Statue of Shapur I ,
one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Iran. Getting to the cave is easiest if
you're in a car, but you could walk to it from the small village of Shapur, itself a
30-minute walk from the main road. The ascent to the cave is steep, so you'll need to wear
good shoes, take water and start very early in summer. The round trip from the village to
the cave takes at least three hours.
Getting There & Away
The full-day trip to Bishapur is easiest with a driver-guide (US$110 to US$130), but pub-
lic transport is viable if you make a very early start. Take a bus ( mahmooly US$3.60, 2½
hours, frequent) or savari (US$4.50, 2¼ hours) to Kazerun from the Amir Kabir terminal
in Shiraz and then walk or hitch a lift to Bishapur. From Shiraz, keep an eye out en route
for the 15-arch Karim Khan Bridge , a Zand-era bridge about 40km west of Shiraz.