Sultan Han, 13th-century Seljuk caravanserai in Sultanhanı, Turkey
Sultan Han is a 13th-century caravanserai in Sultanhanı, central Anatolia, built from large cut stone blocks in the Anatolian Seljuk style. It consists of an open forecourt and a covered hall joined by a richly carved marble portal.
Sultan Han was built in 1229 under the Seljuk sultan Kayqubad I as a rest stop on the trade roads between Konya and Aksaray. A fire damaged the structure later in the same century, and repairs were carried out in 1278.
A small mosque stands on a raised platform in the center of the inner courtyard, reached by a staircase. This prayer space shows that religious practice was part of everyday life on the road, not something left behind at home.
The site is located west of Aksaray along the road toward Konya and is most easily reached by car. Wear sturdy shoes, as the stone floors inside can be uneven and slippery after rain.
The covered hall has a barrel-vaulted roof that rises to a dome with an opening at the top. This opening drew in daylight and fresh air, so travelers and their animals could rest under shelter without the air inside becoming stale.
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