Ateshgah Baku
Location
About
The Ateshgah (Fire Temple) of Baku is a former fire temple near the Azerbaijani capital, built primarily in the 17th-18th centuries CE by Indian traders (both Hindu and Zoroastrian Parsis) on a site of natural gas vents that produced eternal flames. The pentagonal temple enclosure with a central altar-shrine was used for devotions by Indian Zoroastrians and Hindus living in the Caspian trade region.
Significance
The Ateshgah represents the remarkable spread of Zoroastrian and Hindu devotion along the Silk Road trade routes, as Indian merchants from the Parsi and Hindu communities maintained a sacred fire temple in the Caucasus. The natural gas flames that once burned here spontaneously were seen as manifestations of divine sacred fire. The site uniquely bridges Zoroastrian, Hindu, and Sikh traditions.
History & Historical Arc
The Surakhani peninsula near Baku had natural gas seeps producing eternal flames that made it sacred to fire-worshipping…
Archaeological Notes
Inscriptions in the temple are in Sanskrit, Punjabi (Gurmukhi), and Persian, reflecting the diverse communities that use…
Key Features & Structures
- Central altar-shrine with reconstructed eternal flame
- Monk cells around the courtyard
Visitor Information
Open daily. Museum on site. 30 km from central Baku, accessible by bus.
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Hanway, An Historical Account of the British Trade (1753)