Khan Caravanserai

Khan Caravanserai is one of the historic buildings of Khoy, in West Azerbaijan Province. It stands in the central district of the city, next to the historic Khoy Bazaar. It is one of the surviving buildings of the Safavid era. Because Khoy lay on the historic Silk Road, the caravanserai once served as a stopping and resting place for domestic and foreign travellers and merchants, and as a place to trade goods. It lies on the western side of the bazaar, with access to the main bazaar thoroughfare on one side and to Taleghani Street on the other. This position reflects the link between commerce, the bazaar and the lodging of caravan travellers in the historic structure of the city. The monument was added to Iran's National Heritage List on 7 Mehr 1381 (registration no. 6233), and in Shahrivar 1402 it was also inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the "Iranian Caravanserais" property.

Khan Caravanserai was originally built with four iwans, of which two, on the north and east sides, survive today. The four outer walls of the building are made of white stone, and the complex once had about 40 rooms for merchants and travellers. Alongside these rooms there were also spaces such as a coffeehouse and storerooms, which completed the commercial and service functions of the caravanserai. The main entrance, from Taleghani Street, is a large wooden door with a wooden balcony above it, while the other entrances, on the bazaar side, provide direct access to different parts of Khoy's historic bazaar. At the bazaar entrance there is also a dome with architectural decoration. The interior courtyard is planted with trees and has a pool, and caravan-related elements help evoke the building's historic atmosphere for visitors. Some sources attribute the construction of the complex to Ahmad Khan Donboli, the governor of Khoy, who secured trade routes and boosted commerce, laying the groundwork for Khoy's economic development. Today the caravanserai is used mostly for commercial purposes, and some of its activities are still tied to the bazaar and local business.

Khan Caravanserai is reached through the central district of Khoy. Its main entrance is on Taleghani Street, in the area of Majles Alley, and its other entrances connect to the historic Khoy Bazaar, so you can combine a visit to the caravanserai with a stroll through the bazaar and the surrounding historic quarter. Since the attraction is in the middle of the city, it can be visited on most days of the year, but spring and autumn, with Khoy's milder weather, are the better seasons for exploring the city's historic areas. While visiting, please respect the ongoing business in the rooms and the privacy of the shopkeepers, avoid damaging architectural elements and historic decoration, and follow the principles of responsible tourism and keep the area clean when visiting the bazaar and nearby buildings.