Shah Abbasi Zafaranieh caravanserai: a gem in the heart of the desert
Shah Abbasi Zafaranieh Caravanserai shines like a gem in the heart of Khorasan Razavi desert, in Zafaranieh village, 25 kilometers northwest of Sabzevar. This caravanserai, which is a relic of the Safavid era, has witnessed the turbulent history of the region.
Magnificent architecture:
Shah Abbasi Zafaranieh Caravanserai is a type of caravanserai with four porches and it was built using materials such as brick, stone and clay.
Its large central courtyard is the resting place for caravans and their four-legged friends, and there are four tall verandas on its four sides, which provide a cool and pleasant atmosphere in the heat of the desert.
The cells and rooms of the caravanserai are located on two floors around the central courtyard and were used for the accommodation of the caravans and the storage of their goods.
In the center of the courtyard, there is a stone pond, the water of which is supplied through an aqueduct, and in the heat of the desert, it provides a cool and pleasant atmosphere for the caravans.
The brick and tile decorations of the caravanserai show the genius and elegance of the architects of that period. Geometrical, slimy, and khatai motifs are carved on the bricks and tiles, which gives the caravanserai a special beauty.
Various functions:
Shah Abbasi Zafaranieh Caravanserai was primarily a place for caravanners to rest and renew their strength. During their long journeys, the caravans used to rest in this caravanserai, feed their four-legged animals and prepare to continue their journey.
Exchange of goods and trade has also flourished in this caravanserai. Caravans sold and bought their goods to each other in this caravanserai. This caravanserai is considered as an important commercial center in the region.
