AMonumentIndependent states
Ateshgah Fire Temple
A fire temple at Surakhani, built over natural gas flames. In the 17th–18th centuries it was a place of worship for merchants and pilgrims from India.
The Ateshgah stands in Surakhani, a settlement of Baku. Gas seeping from the ground here has burned since ancient times, and the flame was held sacred.
The present pentagonal temple complex was built in the 17th–18th centuries with funds from merchants who came from India along the Silk Road. A fire altar stands in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by pilgrims' cells, and inscriptions in Indian and Persian languages survive on its stones.
When oil and gas extraction began nearby in the late 19th century, the natural flame went out; today the altar fire is fed by a gas pipe. It has been a museum since 1975 and a state historical and architectural reserve since 2007.
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Updated: October 1, 2026