[Azerbaijan] Atishgah Temple, a Zoroastrian holy site where an eternal flame burns

#TravelTips

Azerbaijan, a Central Asian country where Zoroastrianism (fire worship) flourished, is known for its frequent spontaneous combustion caused by natural gas erupting from the ground.

I visited Ateshgah (Zero-Worshipping Temple) on the outskirts of Baku, where the sacred "eternal flame" is lit.

As its name suggests, the "eternal flame" was supposed to be lit in the center of the temple, but... It was gone...

It's true that until 1969, the "eternal fire" burned with natural gas, but in recent years, the gas has run out and it has been replaced with artificial fire.

That fact alone was shocking, but on this day, even more so was the fact that the fire itself had gone out (wry smile).

It was a shame that the eternal fire was gone,
but in each of the private rooms in the monastery built around it,
there was an exhibition of the history of Zoroastrianism, featuring some rather eerie dolls.

The signs and explanatory plaques were a bit faded,
but it was still good to see another side of Azerbaijan.

📍Location: Atashgah Zoroastrian Fire Temple, Surakhany, Baku, Azerbaijan
🕒Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
💰Admission Fee (Foreigners): 9 manat per person (approx. $8.00)
🚃Access: Take the subway from Baku city to Koroglu Metro Station, then transfer to bus number 184 from the bus terminal in front of the station toward Atashgah. Get off at Şəhidlər abidəsi Station, then walk for another 10 minutes.

#Azerbaijan #Architecture #Temple #StunningView