There is a beautiful Robat (or caravanserai) in Yazd, a relic of one of Iran’s historical periods. Until a few years ago, the place called “Robat Ghaleh Khargooshi” was considered a part of Nodushan, but now, in the new divisions, it is considered among the historical monuments of Ardakan. This structure has been damaged a lot over time.
The stone caravanserai of Ghaleh Khargooshi was known as a part of Nodushan in Yazd province until the first years of the 1960s. This structure was built on a road in the southwest of Ardakan and was the connecting road between Yazd and Isfahan. It is also 69 km away from the city of Oghada. However, in the official divisions of the country this carvansarai got separated from Nodooshan and was recognized as part of Ardakan district, separated from Nodouhan. The Nodushanis still consider the Ghaleh Khargooshi Caravanserai as a part of their historical structures.
Ghaleh Khargushi carvansarai was designed and built by a skilled architect from Nodushan. It was built during the Safavid era and is one of the numerous caravanserais that Shah Abbas I ordered to be made. It has been said that on the road we mentioned earlier and near Nodushan, there was a water spring, and caravans, tired from their journey, would stop by to refresh themselves and the animals. At the request of the merchants, Shah Abbas ordered the building of a caravanserai next to the same spring. So, they drew its plan and assigned a master architect familiar with that area to build it. This is how one of the beautiful caravanserais of Yazd was built. Parts of it have survived.
To build this structure, they used granite stones easily obtained from the mountains around the spring. A brick kiln was nearby, and the required bricks were brought from there. All this, plus the consistent efforts of the Nodushani architect, created this spectacular structure. In order to make the carvansarai strong and solid, from the foundation upto 2 meters up stone was used for construction and then onwards bricks were used. They skillfully cut and measured them so that it is impressive and eye-catching. The bricks are square (especially on the roof). Unfortunately, most of this charming structure is now more or less destroyed.
Features of Ghaleh Khargushi carvansarai
Like similar structures, this caravanserai (or Robat) has multiple rooms, a porch, and a place to keep livestock. Sardar Robat was built in two parts. The entrance gate of the carvansarai was built in two stories. The upper story is more beautiful and considered to be for use. A reservoir was built in the middle of the carvansarai, which was a necessity in such areas.
Effort was put in decorating the facade of the carvansarai. For example, its lithograph script, which was the work of Alireza Abbassi, a famous calligrapher of that time. He was a master of calligraphy, and Shah Abbass gave him the title “Shah Navaz Khan”. Master Reza Abbassi traveled from isfahan to Nodushan to write the inscription on the entrance stone of the carvansarai. This stone inscription is 8 meters long and 60 cm wide, and it is placed at the entrance of the caravanserai, and the date of May 1023 is recorded on it. Two black stones were also placed on the facade of Ghaleh Khargooshi Caravanserai. Unfortunately, one of them was stolen in the past years!
Despite all the damages done to it, this beautiful caravanserai is a reminder of the glorious days of caravanserai construction in Iran. It is considered an essential work in Iranian caravanserai architecture. Now, it is a place for tourists and an observatory for astronomy lovers to see the starry nights there. Alas, the remaining foundations of the caravanserai and its stone walls are collapsing!
