Overview:

Ateshgah Temple, Baku In Azerbaijan, is an ancient Zoroastrian temple located near the city of Baku in Azerbaijan. The site was a center for Zoroastrian worship for much of its history and is now a museum maintained by the Azerbaijani government. The temple is a hexagonal complex surrounded by walls and encircled by four castles. The temple is believed to date back to the 16th century, although its exact origins are unclear. Inside, visitors will find a collection of Zoroastrian inscriptions, carvings, and sculptures. The temple is a popular tourist destination, offering visitors a unique glimpse into Azerbaijan’s Zoroastrian past. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Azerbaijan
Prominent Features:

1. Intricate Architecture: Ateshgah Temple is a unique structure with an octagonal shape and intricate architecture, including multiple domes, courtyards and intricate stonework. 2. Fire Worship: Ateshgah Temple is an important Zoroastrian fire temple, and a site of pilgrimage for pilgrims engaging in the ancient practice of fire worship. 3. Historical Significance: The temple is not only linked to Zoroastrian religion, but is an important symbol of Azerbaijan's past, with many famous poets and members of the intelligentsia having visited the site over the centuries. 4. Oil Museum: Additionally, visitors to the temple can find displays of the region's history, including a museum dedicated to the history of oil in the country. 5. Natural Gas Fires: Today, several natural gas fires burn within the temple for visitors to view, offering a rare glimpse into the ancient spiritual practice of fire worship. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Azerbaijan.

History:

The Ateshgah Temple in Baku, Azerbaijan, is a unique and remarkable destination surrounded by historical monuments and enchanting views of the Caucasus Mountains. This temple is an ancient Zoroastrian temple built in the 17th or 18th century. Ateshgah Temple was built at the base of a natural gas vent, and its Zoroastrian worshipers would use the natural source in their worship rituals. Although the earliest records of the temple only date back to 17th century, it is believed to have been present much before then. An 11th century Persian text mentions the Ateshgah as one of the four great fire temples of Baku, dating it back to an even earlier period. Due to its unique location, it has been a popular destination for travelers and spiritual seekers throughout the centuries. Throughout its history, the Ateshgah Temple has had multiple occupiers including the Hindus and Sikhs from India, who were attracted to its healing virtues and veneration of fire as an intermediary between men and their Gods. Muslim traders from other parts of the Islamic world (e.g. from Iran) also have had a great impact on the temple in its formative years. At the turn of the 19th century, when the Russian Empire took control of the region, the Ateshgah Temple fell into decline and eventually became abandoned. In 1883, the religious property was sold to the Russian Imperial Oil Company who had it converted into an oil refinery. The Temple was left in ruins until1965, when due to efforts of local historian Professor Semyon Rogachyov, it was declared an Historical-Architectural Reserve and then gradually restored. In 1975, it was further declared a State Historical-Architectural Museum-Reserve. Today, the Ateshgah Temple remains a place of worship for pilgrims from all over the world, as well as for domestic believers. It is also a protected monument and a popular tourist destination in Baku. Its timeless ambiance and spiritual atmosphere make it a must-see in Azerbaijan. Visit one of the famous monuments of Azerbaijan with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Ateshgah Temple, known as Eternal Fire Temple, is located in Surakhani Town, approximately 16 km south of Baku. 2. The Temple was built by Zoroastrians from South India who resided in Baku in the late 1700s to venerate the holy fire of a failing Zoroastrian fire temple. 3. The fire temple was constructed around a sacred, burning, natural gas vent that has been burning continuously for many centuries. 4. The temple is inscribed with scriptures from the Avesta, the ancient sacred text of Zoroastrianism. 5. During Soviet rule, the Temple was turned into a Soviet Museum, and was closed to worshippers. 6. The Temple was declared an official historical monument in 1969, and eventually reopened to worshippers once again in 1994. 7. The Ateshgah Temple is a popular tourist destination in Baku and serves as a reminder of the unique cultural blend of Eastern and Central Asian culture present in Azerbaijan. One of the historical monuments of Azerbaijan, it tells the story of a bygone era