Description of the attraction
The Sharavsin caravanserai or Sharapsa Khan was built in the middle of the XIII century (in 1236-1246) on the Great Silk Road, on the initiative of Giyaseddin Keykhusrev II, the son of Sultan Aladdin Keykubat I, with the aim of joining Alania to the capital of the Seljuk state of Konya. Since then, for many centuries, it served as a roadside hotel, where traders and ordinary travelers could rest and water their horses. It is located fifteen kilometers from Alanya.
Caravanserai - meaning caravan house in many Turkic languages - is a large public building in Asia, in cities, on roads and in uninhabited areas, serving as a shelter and parking for travelers, usually merchants.
There are two types of caravanserais in Turkey: open and closed. Closed, they were mainly built along the paths along which the caravans passed, although they could often be found in roadside cities. The walls were erected in such a way that they made it possible to fend off an attack and withstand a short siege. They mainly had a building in the shape of a square or rectangle with an open courtyard, in the middle of which there was a well. Inside there are living rooms and warehouses for goods. A corral for pack animals is mandatory. There are one and two-story caravanserais. The two-storey houses on the second floor housed living quarters, and on the first one there were warehouses and pens for animals.
The caravanserais, located between Konya and the southern coast, mainly consist of sheltered courtyards and covered rooms. On the endless roads of Anatolia, they stood like fortresses. With thick fortified walls and towers, these caravanserais were an important place for traders and travelers. In the architecture of these buildings, the influence of Christianity is noticeable.
Sharapsa Khan covers an area of almost 1 hectare and is closed. In all its appearance, it also resembles an old fortress. And there are reasons for this - after all, attacks on roadside hotels by robbers in those days were not uncommon. It has an unusual building plan. The walls of the rectangular courtyard, measuring 15x71m, are made of huge stones and limestone and are supported by props. These props, made of large carved stones, divide it into nine parts. The portal, located at the south wall, reflects the characteristics of Seljuk art. The doors of the caravanserai are framed by arches, one of which also covers its roof. On one of the arches there is an inscription in Arabic, which says when and by whom this caravanserai was built. The small square room in the eastern part of the building is the caravanserai mosque. Inside there is one long hall and several fenced-off well rooms. The building is quite impressive. Having stood for almost eight centuries, it did not suffer much from time, after all, the ancients were skilled architects.
In addition to the fact that Sharapsa Khan is quite well preserved, a local businessman bought it out and restored the building. Today, this inn, widely known in the Middle Ages, is open as an entertainment center. There are a large number of restaurants and stalls with souvenirs, fruits and Turkish delight. In one of these restaurants, the show "Turkish Night" is held. There is a small mosque next to the caravan.
