Work has begun to inscribe the Ateshgah Temple on the UNESCO World Heritage List, AzVision.az reports.
The State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan has started preparations in this regard.
The nomination document will be prepared.
Currently, the Ateshgah Temple is listed on the UNESCO tentative list. Azerbaijan has five sites on the World Heritage List and ten sites on the tentative list.
The Ateshgah Temple is located on the Absheron peninsula, in the Surakhani district, near Surakhani settlement. Throughout its history, the temple has served as a place of worship for Zoroastrians, Hindus, and Sikhs. It was constructed in the 17th-18th centuries at the site of eternal flames—natural gas outlets—which is why the temple is named "Ateshgah", meaning "House of Fire".
By a decree of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, an open-air museum was established around the complex, and it was declared a State Historical and Architectural Reserve. On average, it attracts about 145,000 visitors each year.
In 1998, Ateshgah was included in the list of candidates for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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