Kusan Fire Temple

The Kusan Fire Temple is one of the most notable historical monuments in Mazandaran Province. It is located in Behshahr County, and its name is linked to the village of Kuhestan (formerly called "Kusan"), but the monument actually stands in the village of Asiab-Sar. This village lies next to Kuhestan, and the fire temple sits inside the village cemetery. The Kusan Fire Temple was registered as a National Monument of Iran under registration number 5410 on 25 Esfand 1380.

The architecture of the Kusan Fire Temple is regarded as dating from the Sasanian period or the early post-Islamic era, and it reflects the great importance of the Zoroastrian religion and its religious structures at that time. The building has an almost square plan measuring about 8.5 by 8.5 metres. Its main materials are stone and sarooj (a traditional waterproof lime mortar), and its walls are faced with regular, geometrically cut stones. In addition, artefacts and coins from the Sasanian period have been found at the site, which attests to its historical and architectural importance. Because of its distinctive setting inside the cemetery of Asiab-Sar village and its proximity to the mountains, the monument is valuable from a cultural and historical point of view as well as for nature tourism.

To reach the Kusan Fire Temple, after arriving in Behshahr County, head towards the villages of Kuhestan and Asiab-Sar. The monument is about 4 kilometres west of Behshahr, in the south-western part of Asiab-Sar village. The best time to visit is late spring to early summer, when the weather is mild and the green forest cover makes the area around the monument more attractive. During your visit, please do not touch or climb the walls and stones of the monument, do not leave any litter behind, and stay on the marked footpath, so that this spiritual and architectural heritage is preserved for future generations.