Iran Caravanserais

Iran Caravanserais

The silk road was about 8000 km long and the longest and oldest route in the world. As the most important route in the world, it connects the East of Asia into Europe and Africa through Iran.
The main Silk Road reaches to Mashhad from two routes. The North one was from Marv to Sarakhs, and Tous. The South one was from Haraat. It goes from Mashhad to Neyshabour, Azadvaar, Jovein Plain, Jajarm, Bastaam, passing the North of the desert into Damqan, Semnan and Rey. It was separated from Rey into two routes again. The South one was going to Hamadan (Ekbatan), Passing the Zagros Mountain Ranges into Kangavar, Kermanshah, Qasreshirin, Bagdad and the Mediterranean Sea. The North one, passing through the Alborz Mountain ranges goes to Tabriz, passing from the North of the Lake Urmia, Arzrom and Trabozon Port and from the Black Sea to Europe.
In different eras after Islam, some other routes were added to the main Silk Road. One of them was the road used by the Moslem Pilgrims to Mecca. The other was the passenger route to India which is known as the Spice Road. The glory of developing caravansaries was in Safavids Dynasty in 16th century A.D. Shah-Abbas ordered to build 999 caravansaries and located them inside the cities too. The development of of caravansaries continued during Qajars Dynasty too, but during Pahlavis Dynasty they became useless because of building the railroads and asphalt roads. Nowadays, some caravansaries are managed by private sectors; they are being used as accommodation, restaurants and other traditional services to the tourists.

 

Some of the most famous caravansaries in Iran are as follows:

Shah-Abbasi Caravansary in Isfahan (Hotel), Deyregachin Caravansary in Qom (the Mother of Caravansaries), Miyandasht Caravansary in Meyamey (the greatest and the most complete Caravansary), Zeynoddin Caravansary in the South of Yazd Provence (the rectangular Shaped Caravansary), Robaat-Sharaf near Sarakhs (the masterpiece of break-works in the world), Behistun Caravansary in Kermanshah Provence (Hotel), Kharanaq Caravansary in Yazd Provence (eco-camp), Khanat Caravansary in Tehran (Restaurant), Sadolsaltaneh Caravansary in Qazvin (bazaar and restaurant), Shah-Abbasi Caravansary in Neyshabour (Precious stone bazaar), Babaqodrat Caravansary in Mashhad (Restaurant), Maranjaab Caravansary near Aran-o-Bidgol (eco-camp in desert), Dehnamak Caravansary near Garmsaar (eco-camp and restaurant), Lasjerd Caravansary near Semnan (eco-camp and restaurant), Khaneh-Nazar Caravansary near Jolfa (eco-camp), Madar-Shah Caravansary near Isfahan, Veyrani Robaat near Mashhad, Ahowan Stone Robaat near Semnan, Qasre-Bahram and Eynorrashid Caravansaries in National park of Iran desert, Pasangan Caravansary in Qom, Toroq Robaat in Mashhad, Kalmard Caravansary in Tabas, Gougad Citadel in Golpayegan, Abbasi Caravansary in Karaj, Shah-Abbasi Caravansary in Sabzevar, Mirza-Abolhasan Caravansary in the great bazaar of Tabriz, Bazaar Caravansary in Hamedan, Izadkhast Caravansary in Fars province, etc.

8 Best Caravanserais in Iran to Stay

Abbasi Hotel, Isfahan

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Abbasi caravansary has been built in 1695 under the command of King Sultan Husayn in Safavid Dynasty. He donated the mansion to his mother. Remarkably, about 150 prominent artists of Isfahan have been putting effort to make it a magnificent historical place. Abbasi Hotel is the oldest hotel in Iran. This 300 years old mansion is one of the greatest architectural phenomena of Isfahan. It is not just a hotel, it is a treasury of the architectural art and unique subtlety of the Isfahani artists, a museum of the most original and most beautiful pieces of art.

Moshir Caravanserai, Yazd

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Moshir Caravanserai Yazd Hotel past the medieval architecture of Moshir iadegari, who at the time of mozaffaredin Shah’s conquest at the hands of almmalec moshiri alley in the city of Yazd ancient and historic building. This hotel dates back to 150 years ago, ends in 1375 its reconstruction began and was inaugurated in the year 1385 and the list of national monuments record. Moshir karoansaray, which was the time the safe place residences have been suffering from tired travelers way, beautiful and eye-catching now hteli converter. Meals at the restaurant and hotel are equipped with seven colors of tile covering traditional and specific architecture it is dear to lhazati people’s yadmandeni for passengers..

Zein O Din Caravanserai, Yazd

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Want to experience a stay like an old traveler in the heart of the desert? In this case, you can choose Zein-o-Din Caravanserai. This historical caravansarai belonged to the Safavid era and is located in the 60th kilometer of Yazd, near Mehriz Town. One of the best advantages of this caravanserai is that you can enjoy the mysterious and dreamy night sky of the desert while you are staying.
Zein-o-Din Caravanserai is the only circled caravansary in Iran. From outside, you are only able to see a rounded shape, but from the inside, it is actually a dodecagon. To renovate this valuable monument, they used natural materials from the surrounding area to preserve its authenticity.

Yam Caravanserai, Tabriz

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The Yam caravanserai dates back to the Mongol and Safavid period, being on the transit route between Iran and Europe and on the Silk Road, it has always aroused interest and is considered one of the most important transit structures in different historical periods.
The Yam caravanserai, built in an area where the nomad tribe’s summer camps are located, with a mild climate and a beautiful landscape, was known as caravanserai Shah Abbāsi among the people and in the history books is cited as caravanserai Yām ilkhanide .
This structure at 4 Iwan, has a large central courtyard with the appearance of a vestibule, a high portal, one gonbadkhāne, rooms and Iwan adjacent to the courtyard for caravaners accommodation. Today this historic place, after being rebuilt and restored, has become a hotel.

Bistoon laleh caravanserai

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As an ancient city, Bistoon is located 2 km east of Kermanshah province. The exceptional condition of Mount Bistoon (that is the famous relief of Darius, the Achaemenid king) has led many to call it the Zagros Gate. The city is host to Bistoon Caravasary, also known as Shah Abbas Caravansary, as it was built on the orders of King Abbas I during Safavid era . Like other caravansaries in Iran, Bistoon has is built in the foursquare style having four towers at the corners. The west side towers are circular and the east side ones are hexagonal. For the time being, Laleh International Hotel serves the travelers in Bistoon Caravansary..

Kuhpa caravanserai

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Being around 400 years old, Shah Abbasi Caravanserai in Varzaneh, is one of the 999 ones that were built under command of Shah Abbas during the Safavid Empire. Kouhpa Caravanserai is now actively providing the guests with a traditional Persian ambience. This place gives you an impressionable and indescribable sense of ancient times as if you are traveling in history. You can find the place in the eastern exit road of Varzaneh and to be exact 74 km in Naeen road. As the main feature of Persian caravanserais the inn has a central yard surrounded by rooms and four porches. Barns to for the housing of travelers’ animals are behind the rooms around the building. In the exterior view of the caravanserai four tall touwers can be observed in the corners and three towers in the middle of the walls.

Vakil caravanserai ( Karavanica hotel)

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This double storyed traditional caravansary is located in the Vakil Bazaar of Kerman. Its construction began under the orders of Mohammad Esmail Khan Vakil-ol-Molk, and was completed in the times of Morteza Qoli Khan in the year 1287 AH. Eighty one chambers were constructed on the ground floor, and thirty nine on the upper floor. The structure is adorned with plaster and tile works . This hotel includes 57 rooms, a restaurant complex, a tea house, commercial spaces, a lobby .

Maranjab caravanserai

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Maranjab Caravanserai is situated 50 kilometers northeast of Aran and Bidgol, and on the southwestern edge of the Maranjab National Desert Park. The route from Aran and Bidgol to Maranjab follows an ancient path connecting Isfahan to Kashan, Yazd, Mashhad, and Tehran – a route frequented by numerous desert travelers. Maranjab Caravanserai is situated in the “Band Rig” region, one of Iran’s renowned and largest sand dunes. In the past, this area was a passage for permanent and seasonal rivers and waterways. Now, the floods are no more, and Band Rig adorns itself with a beautiful springtime vegetation cover. Furthermore, when sand dunes move due to wind, a unique spectacle is created. Maranjab caravanserai offers various amenities for visitors, including a guesthouse, a restaurant, and desert tour services. Tourists can immerse themselves in the rich history and stunning desert landscapes while enjoying modern comforts.

‘’ The world is a caravanserai, with one entry and one exit ‘’

Omar Khayyam

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