Udvada Atash Behram, Sacred Zoroastrian fire temple in Udvada, Gujarat, India

Udvada Atash Behram is a two-storey white building with a deep veranda. Ten carved pillars support the upper level, with a stone balustrade between them; the base is a solid wall with a molded cornice. Above, the upper storey is divided into bays by pilasters, with louvered shutters and windows, and a balustraded staircase rises on the right. The walls and columns are white with yellowish trim along the cornices and moldings, and the roof has overhanging eaves.

The fire was consecrated at Sanjan in 721 with implements brought from Iran, then kept in the Bahrot Caves for 12 years after Sultan Mahmud's 1297 invasion of Gujarat. It stayed at Vansda for 14 years before moving to Navsari in 1419, where it remained for over 300 years. Disputes with Navsari's Bhagaria priests drove it to Valsad and then, in 1741, to Udvada; the present temple was built there in 1742 by Motlibai Wadia.

Nine priestly families conduct daily ceremonies in the temple following Zoroastrian traditions that have been handed down through their lineages. These rituals shape the rhythm of daily life and maintain the spiritual practices visible to those who visit.

The temple is located about 200 kilometers from Mumbai and accepts visitors by prior arrangement only. Access is coordinated through community representatives who manage entry permissions.

Establishing a new sacred fire requires gathering and purifying sixteen different types of fire through ritualized processes. This procedure can span an entire year, demonstrating the extraordinary complexity of this Zoroastrian practice.