Located in Sarakhs, within the Khorasan-e Razavi Province of Iran and one of the fifty-four Caravanserais within The Persian Caravanserai, the Robāt-e Sharaf Caravanserai is a rectangular, fortified building, that resembles to the equivalent to a modern-day inn. This archeological site that resides on the Silk Road, was primarily used as a rest stop for travelers; a commercial hub for merchants to sell, trade, and purchase goods; a royal palace for the elite for special occasions; as well as a rest stop for pilgrims when traveling to Merv and Nishapur. Having an area of 4,863 square meters, incorporating Seljuk and Iranian architectures, and made entirely of baked brick, plaster, and stucco carvings, the Robāt-e Sharaf Caravanserai’s interior is comprised of a two-courtyard layout; guest rooms that were used for all social classes containing amenities; a four-iwan plan, which in Islamic architecture, usually consisted of a vaulted room with open sides; and decorated brickwork, which displayed Islamic art, and reflected the traditions of the Seljuk period. While there was a total of fifty-four Caravanserais throughout Iran, the Robāt-e Sharaf Caravanserai was the most well-known, and significant.
Sharaf al-Din Qummi - Governor of Khorasan and Vizier to Sultan Sanjar
Restored and Remodeled: Turkan Khatun - Daughter of the Khan and the Wife of Sultan Sanjar
Image 1: Hadidehghanpour (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C_%D8%B3%D9%87_%D8%B1%D8%AE_%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B7_%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%81.jpg)
Image 2: Babak Sedighi (https://whc.unesco.org/en/documents/196538)
Image 3: Babak Sedighi (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1668/gallery/&index=1&maxrows=12)
Sarakhs, Khorasan-e Razavi Province, Iran