Espakhu Fire Temple

The Espakhu Fire Temple is one of the important ancient fire temples of North Khorasan Province, located in Maneh and Samalqan County. Dating from the Sassanid era, it is known as one of the important Zoroastrian centers in the region. Sometimes called the "church" by local people, it is considered one of the oldest surviving religious structures in the area and is registered on Iran's National Heritage List under registration number 1579.

The architecture of the Espakhu Fire Temple is a distinctive combination of dome and iwan. The rectangular plan of the building, covering nearly 250 square meters, includes an eastern iwan with a barrel-vaulted roof, which leads through a distinct arch to a hall and then to a domed chamber. The building was constructed using stone, sarooj mortar and wooden beams, and its hemispherical dome closely resembles Sassanid chahartaqi domes. The presence of a circular niche, a fire altar and openings in the dome's ceiling for smoke to escape shows that the building's original function was a fire temple, not a church.

The fire temple stands amid pristine, beautiful nature, on a hilltop overlooking juniper conifer forests, which gives visitors a sense of peace and spirituality. The best route to this historic building is the Bojnord–Gorgan road. After driving about 105 kilometers from Bojnord, you need to turn onto a paved side road about 4 kilometers long that leads to Espakhu Village; from there, the fire temple is only a 50-meter walk away. Visiting in spring and summer is recommended because of the mild weather and beautiful views. Practicing responsible nature tourism, including avoiding touching the historic walls, collecting your waste and preserving the tranquility of the surroundings, is also essential to protect this valuable heritage.