Work begins on inclusion of "Ateshgah Temple" in UNESCO's World Heritage List

Work has begun to include the "Ateshgah Temple" in UNESCO's World Heritage List, Azernews reports.

The State Tourism Agency has started preparations for this initiative. A nomination document will be prepared for this purpose.

Currently, the "Ateshgah Temple" is on UNESCO's temporary list. In total, there are five sites from Azerbaijan on the World Heritage List and ten on the temporary list.

The Ateshgah Temple is located in the Surakhani district, near Surakhani village on the Absheron Peninsula. This temple has served as a place of worship for Zoroastrians, Hindus, and Sikhs throughout various periods. Known as the "House of Fire" or "Place of Fire," the temple was built in the 17th-18th centuries at the site of eternal flames fueled by natural gas.

In accordance with a decree by the President of Azerbaijan, an open-air museum has been established around the complex, which has been declared a State Historical and Architectural Reserve. The museum attracts an average of 145,000 visitors annually.

In 1998, Ateshgah was included in the candidate list for UNESCO World Heritage status.