Orbelian's Caravanserai, Medieval caravanserai at Selim mountain pass, Armenia
Orbelian's Caravanserai is a rectangular stone structure at the Selim Pass featuring a vestibule that opens into a main hall with three naves separated by seven pairs of solid pillars. The building measures approximately 26 meters long and 13 meters wide, constructed entirely from basalt blocks.
Prince Chesar Orbelian and his brothers built this mountain shelter in 1332 as a stopping point for merchants traveling the Silk Road. The structure was later fully restored during the Soviet period between 1956 and 1959, preserving its original medieval design.
The entrance displays carved winged creatures and bulls, while the inner walls bear inscriptions in Armenian, Persian, and Arabic reflecting the meeting of different peoples along trade routes.
The structure sits at 2410 meters elevation on a mountain ridge and is easy to walk through and explore on foot. Sturdy shoes are recommended since the pass can be windy and the ground is uneven.
The building remains one of the few surviving caravanserais in the Caucasus and features rare architectural elements like continuous ventilation openings along the walls. These design details show how well the original builder understood the needs of long mountain journeys.
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