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Ateshgah: The Zoroastrian Fire Temple

Explore the Ateshgah Fire Temple in Baku, a historic site showcasing Zoroastrian, Hindu, and Sikh traditions.

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The Ateshgah, or "Fire Temple," is a historical-religious site located in Baku, Azerbaijan, that attracts those who seek to experience the ancient Zoroastrian practice of fire worship. Built in the 17th and 18th centuries, the temple was a pilgrimage destination for Zoroastrians, Hindus, and Sikhs.

A brief summary to Atashgah Zoroastrian Fire Temple

Local tips

  • Visit in the morning to avoid crowds and high temperatures.
  • Combine your visit with a trip to Yanar Dag, the "Burning Mountain," to see another example of Azerbaijan's natural flames.
  • Photography is allowed, so capture the temple's architecture and the eternal flame.
  • Hire a local guide at the entrance for detailed explanations in English or other languages.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    To reach the Ateshgah by public transport, start from Baku city center and take the Baku Metro to Koroglu Station. From there, you can catch a taxi to the temple, which is a short ride away. The metro fare is 0.30 AZN [approximately $0.18 USD]. A taxi from Koroglu Station to the Ateshgah will cost approximately 5-7 AZN [approximately $3-4 USD].

  • Taxi

    Taxis are readily available in Baku. A taxi ride from the city center to the Ateshgah takes approximately 50 minutes, depending on traffic. Expect to pay around 10-15 AZN [approximately $6-9 USD] for the trip.

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Discover more about Atashgah Zoroastrian Fire Temple

Located on the Absheron Peninsula, near Baku, Azerbaijan, the Ateshgah, whose name derives from the Persian word for fire, is a testament to Azerbaijan's historical role as a crossroads of culture and religion. The temple's history stretches back centuries, with roots in ancient fire-worshipping traditions. The structure that exists today was constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries atop an ancient Zoroastrian worship site. For centuries, natural gas seeping from the ground fueled flames here, which were regarded as sacred by Zoroastrians, Hindus, and Sikhs. The temple became a pilgrimage site, particularly for traders from the Indian subcontinent involved in commerce around the Caspian Sea. The temple's architecture reflects a blend of cultural influences, with Persian and Indian inscriptions adorning the stones. The central altar was a focal point, surrounded by monks' cells where devotees once lived an ascetic lifestyle. Inside these cells, you can see various exhibits and artifacts detailing the history of fire worship. While the natural flames died out in 1969 due to gas exploitation, a flame fed by a gas pipeline preserves the site's historical ambiance. Visitors can explore the temple's courtyard, monastic cells, and the central fire altar. The Ateshgah was converted into a museum in 1975 and was declared a historical-architectural reserve by the President of Azerbaijan in 2007. A visit to the Ateshgah offers a glimpse into the ancient Zoroastrian religion, the cultural exchanges that have occurred in the region, and the enduring legacy of fire worship.

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