Azerbaijan’s nickname, ‘Land of Fire’ is far more than a marketing slogan as you’ll see at these two fascinating sites. Azerbaijan was one of the original homelands of the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism in which flames were seen as a symbol of the divine. And, as though heaven sent, it was a country where fires leapt spontaneously from the ground. And they still do as you’ll see at Yanar Dag (‘Burning Mountain’). While hardly a ‘mountain’, this windswept hillside 25 kilometres northeast of Baku has been burning for as long as anyone can remember, and the fire isn’t showing signs of going out any time soon. It’s an unusual curiosity, but by no means the only fire phenomenon in Azerbaijan.
A relatively short drive to the south of here in the town of Surakhany, Ateshgah is a rare example of a well-preserved fire temple. Restored in the 17th and 18th centuries by Indian merchants its central fire-hearth sits above a natural gas vent and glows with ever –burning flames. Surrounding hermit cells now form a museum and the whole structure is set behind a grand fortress-style gateway.
What's included Tour price includes: Entrance fee to Ateshgah Fire TempleProfessional Guide Services Entrance fee to Yanardag
