About
Why Shushan
There are places that exist twice — once in the ground and once in the story. Shushan is one of those places.
The Vision
VisitShushan exists because the ancient Persian capital deserves to be understood as a destination, not just a ruin. The palace of Darius at Susa, the ceremonial capital of Persepolis, the living diaspora communities from Los Angeles to Mumbai — these are not separate things. They are one continuous story of a civilization that valued beauty, hospitality, and the written word.
The Cyrus Principle
Our approach to travel content is guided by what we call the Cyrus Principle: present the heritage honestly, honor the complexity, and never reduce a living civilization to a backdrop for entertainment. Cyrus the Great issued the first declaration of human rights. That spirit of respect — for difference, for dignity, for the intelligence of the audience — guides everything we publish.
The Table of 127
Ahasuerus ruled 127 provinces. The number recurs throughout the Megillah — not as an exaggeration but as a statement of scope. VisitShushan honors this number by reserving 127 founding places for the travelers who arrive first. These are not tickets. They are invitations to be part of a community that takes heritage travel seriously.
Sister Properties
VisitShushan is the travel companion to PurimInShushan.com, which tells the story of Purim through a browser-based game, cultural content, and community features. Where PurimInShushan brings the story to your screen, VisitShushan takes it into the world.