Image Source: Wikimedia Commons Modified and released under Creative Common License CC BY-SA 3.0

Udvada Atash Behram

Udvada Atash Behram, also known as Iranshah ‘King of Iran”. The meaning of “Atash Behram” is 'victorious fire'.

Location: It is located in Udvada, a coastal city in the state of Gujarat.

Historical Timeline: The Temple was built in 1741 by Dinshaw Dorabjee Mistry from Bombay. A major renovation was done from 2007 to 2009, using the contributions from followers around the globe. 

Nearby Places: Apart from the Iranshah temple, Udvada has a fantastic beach to offer for the beach lovers. The trip to Udvada will be incomplete without watching the sunset on the beach.The Zoroastrian heritage museum which  is sponsored by the Government of Gujarat is another spot worth a visit. This museum provides an insight into the culture and tradition of Zoroastrianism, which has its strong roots in Iran. The area around Udvada is perfect to relish typical Parsi food like fried Boi (mullet fish), sali margi (a dish made of chicken served with fried potatoes), ... More

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons Modified and released under Creative Common License CC BY-SA 3.0

Udvada Atash Behram

Udvada Atash Behram, also known as Iranshah ‘King of Iran”. The meaning of “Atash Behram” is 'victorious fire'.

Location: It is located in Udvada, a coastal city in the state of Gujarat.

Historical Timeline: The Temple was built in 1741 by Dinshaw Dorabjee Mistry from Bombay. A major renovation was done from 2007 to 2009, using the contributions from followers around the globe. 

Nearby Places: Apart from the Iranshah temple, Udvada has a fantastic beach to offer for the beach lovers. The trip to Udvada will be incomplete without watching the sunset on the beach.The Zoroastrian heritage museum which  is sponsored by the Government of Gujarat is another spot worth a visit. This museum provides an insight into the culture and tradition of Zoroastrianism, which has its strong roots in Iran. The area around Udvada is perfect to relish typical Parsi food like fried Boi (mullet fish), sali margi (a dish made of chicken served with fried potatoes), dhanshak (a dish made of meat or vegetables with lentil), etc. One can also stop by in one of the bakeries to enjoy the moist Iranian mawa cakes. The best thing you can buy as a souvenir is a diva, a model of the holy fire. The very essence of Udvada can be relished by walking through the lanes, enjoying the village life, and seeing the deserted houses which tell a very long story of migration.

Accessibility: As there is no airport in Udvada, and people flying to Udvada have to depend on the airport in Surat, which is around 79 km away. Travelers from abroad have to disembark at the Chhatrapati Sivaji International Airport in Mumbai, which is the closest International Airport to Udvada. Udvada railway station is the primary gateway to the Iranshah, which is situated hardly 7 km away from the temple. Another option is Vapi station which is a little further than Udvada station but has better connectivity for both inbound and outbound travel. From the station, private or shared rickshaws can be hired to cover the 15 km distance to reach Udvada.

Accommodation: A handful of homestays and hotels are there in Udvada, but they are more on the expensive side. So Vapi is a better option for those who want to stay and enjoy the place. For Parsi pilgrims, Dharamsalas are available adjacent to the temple at reasonable prices.

Fire Temple Grade Atash Behram : Udvada Atash Behram is one among the nine Atash Behrams (eight are in India and one in Iran) where the highest grade of fire, known as Atash Behram, is placed and worshipped. Atash Behram is believed to be the supreme fire among the three variants, as its consecration ceremony is the most elaborate one compared to the other two.

For Zoroastrians, fire symbolizes purity and divinity. So in each and every fire temple, fire is consecrated and kept. But the significance of a temple further elevates depending on the grade of fire kept inside. In Zoroastrian, there are three grades of fire; they are Atash Behram, Atash Adaran and Atash Dadgah. The difference between these three largely depends on the way in which it is lit, consecrated, and maintained.