INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TEHRAN-- The deserted caravanserai of Simon in the northwestern city of Mahabad, West Azarbaijan province, is planned to go through some
rehabilitation works, the citys tourist chief has said.The task will be carried out by Mahabad Municipality under the supervision of the
citys Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department, Nasser Sadafi explained on Sunday
Parts of the Safavid-era (1501-1736) inn are prepared to develop into a handicrafts market after being fully restored, the official
added.West Azarbaijan welcomes a variety of rich natural landscapes, cultural heritage websites, and museums consisting of the UNESCO sites
of Takht-e Soleyman and Qareh Klise (St
Thaddeus Monastery), Teppe Hasanlu, and the messed up Bastam Citadel.The region has been the seat of several ancient civilizations
It formed part of Urartu and later of Media
In the 4th century BC, it was conquered by Alexander the Great and was called Atropatene after one of Alexanders generals, Atropates, who
developed a little kingdom there
The location returned to Persian (Iranian) guideline under the Sasanians in the 3rd century CE
The Arabs managed Azerbaijan from the 7th century up until Turkish wanderers overran it in the 11th century
Thenceforth the residents of the area were Turkish speakers
The area was overrun by the Mongols in the 13th century, and, under the ruler Hulegu, Azarbaijan ended up being the center of a Mongol
empire extending from Syria on the west to the Oxus River (now Amu Darya) on the east.Possible UNESCO tag for Iranian caravanseraisIran has
advanced a choice of 56 caravansaries as a candidate for cumulative inclusion on UNESCOS cultural heritage list.Last year, the tourism
ministry revealed that Iran was establishing a dossier for a selection of its historical caravanserais for a possible engraving on the
UNESCO World Heritage list
In this regard, cultural heritage specialists are assessing such monoliths that are spread throughout the country to make a shortlist in
terms of their architecture as well as historic and cultural values.Caravansary (also Caravanserai or Caravansaray) is a building that
served as the inn of the Orient, offering lodging for business, pilgrim, postal, and particularly main travelers.According to Encyclopedia
Iranica, from the variety of enduring caravansaries and their sizes, it is clear that in Safavid and Qajar times there was a state
architectural department that was particularly worried about the building of caravansaries and stations on the overland routes
In addition, in the cities, numerous caravansaries were set up as accommodations houses, depots, and industrial offices in the area of the
bazaars.A typical caravansary includes a square or rectangle-shaped strategy focused around a courtyard with just one entryway and plans for
Whether fortified or not, it a minimum of provided security versus beasts of prey and attacks by brigands.The earliest caravanserais in Iran
were constructed throughout the Achaemenid age (550 - 330 BC)
Centuries later, when Shah Abbas I presumed power from 1588-- to 1629, he purchased the construction of a network of caravanserais across
the country.For many travelers, staying in or even visiting a centuries-old caravanserai can be a broad experience; they have a chance to
feel the past, a time travel back to a forgotten age.Such roadside inns were once built along ancient caravan routes in the Muslim world to
shelter individuals, their items, and animals
The former Silk Roads may be the most popular example dotted by caravanserais.Cozy chambers that are meticulously laid out around a huge
courtyard may quickly evoke spirits of the past
Its not hard to expensive the hustle and bustle of merchants bargaining on rates, recounting their strenuous journeys to one another while
their camels chewing hay! You can likewise develop the concept of local architectural style and material in its heyday.It is not tough to
fancy the stress of merchants bargaining on prices, stating their strenuous journeys to one another while their camels chewing hay!Passing
major roadways in the country, one may see crumbling caravanserais, much of which were abandoned for ages
In the Information Age, such guest homes have mostly lost their actual usage.However, a number of years ago, the Iran tourism ministry
presented a scheme to keep them alive and rewarding; 10s of caravanserais are ceded to personal financiers for better maintenance
Now, some are solely refurbished and repurposed into shop hotels and traveler lodgings.They frequently had massive portals supported by
raised load-bearing walls
Visitor spaces were built around the courtyard and stables behind them with doors in the corners of the yard.ABU/ MG
