Iranshah Atash Behram, Udvada

About Iranshah Atash Behram, Udvada

The Iranshah Atash Behram in the small coastal town of Udvada houses the holiest fire of the Parsi Zoroastrians of India. Parsi tradition says the fire was consecrated after their ancestors fled Persia and landed at Sanjan in Gujarat, and it has been kept burning for well over a thousand years. It was moved several times before being installed at Udvada in 1742.

Only Zoroastrians may enter the fire temple, but the town itself offers a quiet glimpse of Parsi culture, with old wooden houses, a heritage museum and the Iranshah Udvada Utsav festival. Many Parsis from Mumbai make an annual pilgrimage here to pray before the sacred flame.

What to see

• Exterior of the Atash Behram
• Old Parsi houses with wooden verandas
• Zoroastrian Information Centre and museum
• Udvada beach
• Iranshah Udvada Utsav festival

Visiting Iranshah Atash Behram, Udvada: practical guide

Best time

November to February

Hours

Interior for Zoroastrians only; town open to all

Entry

Free for Zoroastrian worshippers; museum small fee

Dress code

Modest clothing; head covering for worshippers

Nearest airport

Surat Airport (STV), 110 km

Tips from experienced pilgrims

• Respect the rule that non Zoroastrians may not enter
• Try Parsi food at local guesthouses
• Combine with Sanjan memorial column

Festivals and special days

• Iranshah Udvada Utsav
• Navroz
• Khordad Sal

Etiquette for visitors

Guidance drawn from Zoroastrianism tradition. Always follow signs and local custodians.

• Many fire temples in India admit only Zoroastrians; view them respectfully from outside.
• In Iran, visitors can often see the sacred fire through a glass window.
• Cover your head in prayer areas when asked.
• Do not blow on or throw anything into a sacred fire.
• Avoid photographing people at prayer without permission.
• Treat Towers of Silence as funerary sites, even when no longer in use.

Location map

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Frequently asked questions