Sultanhani Caravanserai The Sultanhani is a 13th-century caravanserai located in the town of Sultanhani within Aksaray Province, situated just over 40 kilometers from the city center on the route to Konya. This impressive structure was originally built in 1229 by the Syrian architect Muhammad ibn Khalwan al-Dimashqi during the reign of the Seljuk ruler Kayqubad I. Following damage caused by a fire, the caravanserai was restored and enlarged in 1278 by the local governor Seraceddin Ahmed Kerimeddin bin El Hasan, under the rule of Seljuk Sultan Kaykhusraw III. This caravanserai stands as a remarkable example of Seljuk architecture in Turkey, spanning an impressive 4,900 square meters, making it the largest medieval caravanserai in the country. Entry is through a grand portal gate that rises 13 meters high, featuring elaborate muqarnas (stalactite-like decorations), rosettes, and intricate interlaced motifs. The pointed arch framing the entrance is embellished with muqarnas brackets and geometric plaited designs. Inside the gate lies a spacious open courtyard measuring 44 by 58 meters, used in the summer months. On the opposite side of this courtyard is another finely ornamented arch that leads into a covered hall (iwan), which served as a winter shelter. The central section of this enclosed space features a barrel-vaulted ceiling supported by transverse arches. At the center of the open courtyard is a square-shaped stone mosque-kiosk (köşk mescidi), known to be the oldest of its kind in Turkey. The upper section of the mosque is supported by four intricately carved, barrel-vaulted arches, and its mihrab is richly decorated and illuminated by two side windows. Stables are located around the interior courtyard beneath a series of arches, with residential quarters positioned above them. The complex also includes arched rooms and halls, two bathhouses, and storage facilities situated around the central courtyard. If you have any questions or need more details about the Sultanhani Caravanserai, feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected] or simply message us on WhatsApp. We’ll be happy to assist you promptly.