The caravanserai named Chenar-rahdar, in the urban area of Shiraz, is considered one of the Safavid era’s most beautiful and remarkable carvansarai. But now-a-days, this valuable historic and architectural work is on the slope of destruction and disappearing from history.
Chenar-rahdar Caravanserai is registered in the list of national monuments of Iran, with its amazing features, can be considered as one of the outstanding examples of Iranian caravanserai. This historic structure is located at the beginning of the old Shiraz-Kazeroun road, and its distance from Amirkabir Boulevard is not more than a few hundred meters.
As ISNA writes, this caravanserai was used for nearly 5 centuries, as one of the prominent caravanserais in one of the most important connection points in the country’s south. It has received caravans, tourists and people traveling from Shiraz to Kazeroon, and from there to Bushehr and some other southern coasts of the country, such as Ganaveh.
According to Isna’s report, Mohsen Abbaspour, one of the cultural heritage activists and experts, said: It can be claimed that this caravanserai was one of the main points of entry for caravans that came to Shiraz from part of the southern coast of the country. This caravanserai is mentioned in some travelogues, and we have old pictures of it.
Abbaspour pointed out that he had gone to this caravanserai for research work in April this year and added: “I went to this caravanserai once again, recently, to do research, and noticed that part of its old wooden door was destroyed.”
Confirming that this caravanserai is dealing with numerous challenges, Abbaspour said: “Invading the privacy of the registered structure, erosion of some sections, the collapse of some roofs and the instability of some other ceilings and walls, severe erosion of some of its decorative element’s and… It is among some of the challenges that threaten this historical caravanserai.”
While reiterating that, as a first step, Chenar-rahdar Caravanserai needs immediate and urgent strengthening and restoration, this cultural heritage activist said: the outstanding features of this building and its location within the limits of Shiraz city are such that after the restoration operation, it can be used as an exceptional structure of its kind, should be a place for research work and be added to the country’s tourism chain as one of the unique historical structures of Shiraz.
He continued: In addition, the historic bridge, located a few meters away from this caravanserai, is facing precarious conditions and needs strengthening and restoration operations.
This bridge is one of the historical bridges that has been used as one of the main entrances to Shiraz in successive centuries, and now it has been suffering from severe erosion.
In the recent years, the municipality of Shiraz has started constructing a recreational and tourism project near this caravanserai with the title “Chenarrahdar,” derived from the name of this caravanserai and the region.
This ongoing project, and it’s very close distance to the caravanserai above has provided an opportunity for the Shiraz Municipality or the Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts or any other governing body to be able to save this valuable caravanserai from further destruction by restoring it and creating an opportunity for tourists and researchers to visit it.
Chenarrahdar Caravanserai is built with four porches and with stone and plaster materials. This structure has six watchtowers and various spaces inside, among which we can mention its pillared halls.
