TEHRAN – The northern facade of Caravanserai of Semnan has been restored to its former status as part of a main project to set up the gigantic inn for tourism.

The restoration project is intended to help prepare the caravanserai for public visits and for make it ready to play host to cultural programs, a local tourism official said.

The official noted that the caravanserai, which is a national heritage site since 1973, had served as the central prison of Semnan for 40 years until 2020.

The caravanserai is one of the 999 caravanserais constructed across the country upon the order of Shah Abbas the Great, the 5th Safavid king of Iran. It sprawls across 8,500 square meters and features four iwans (porches) and two entrances.

A caravanserai, also known as a caravansary, is a compound word combining "caravan" with "sara"; the former referring to a group of travelers and the latter meaning the building. These structures often boasted massive portals supported by elevated load-bearing walls. Guest rooms were constructed around the courtyard, with stables situated behind them and doors located in the corners of the yard.

The earliest caravanserais in Iran date back to the Achaemenid era (550 - 330 BC). Centuries later, during the reign of Shah Abbas I from 1588 to 1629, a network of caravanserais was commissioned across the country. These roadside inns were strategically positioned along ancient caravan routes in the Muslim world, providing shelter for people, their goods, and animals. The former Silk Road remains the most famous example, dotted with caravanserais that once facilitated trade and travel across vast distances.

Staying at or even just visiting a centuries-old caravanserai can be a memorable experience for many visitors to Iran, allowing them to immerse themselves in the past and travel back in time. Stories abound of merchants bargaining on prices and recounting their arduous journeys to one another, while their camels leisurely chew on hay.

AM