Chakchak

Chakchak is one of the most famous Zoroastrian mountain temples left in the world. we were there about a week before the annual pilgrimage. As usual there were Iranians there who offered us tea. We accepted the offer and had tea and watermelon with a Muslim family who were having a morning picnic at Chakchak.
I was a bit surprised about the popularity of the place as a picnic haunt. On our way down we saw a number of other families heading up the hill, all loaded up with watermelon, camp stoves, kids and other paraphenalia. Not so unusual for a picnic, but to get to Chakchak you have to climb about 600 feet from the car park up the (steep!) hill to get to the hostels and temple.