Alara Han, Seljuk caravanserai in Antalya Province, Turkey
Alara Han is a stone rest stop in Antalya Province built during the Seljuk period, featuring a central courtyard surrounded by small rooms. Seventy-nine limestone lion head lamps once provided light throughout its interior spaces.
This structure was built in the 13th century by a Seljuk ruler as a stopping point for merchant caravans traveling trade routes. It became a crucial facility supporting commerce and movement along the ancient pathways of the region.
The building served as a crucial meeting place for traders and travelers seeking shelter during their journeys across trade routes. Its layout and function reveal how such rest stops operated as centers of exchange and connection between distant regions.
The site sits in a remote location requiring planning before your visit. It is helpful to research access routes and walking paths beforehand to prepare for the isolated setting.
The lion heads were not merely decorative but served as functional oil lamps, showing how architects blended art with practicality. This combination of form and function represents a rare example of Seljuk Islamic design philosophy.
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