Most of Iran’s caravanserais are exosphere (outside city) structures. However, in some areas of our country intracity caravansarais have also been built, and their use differs from those outside city limits. Shah Abbas caravanserai in Damghan is one of the intracity structures, worth visiting and observing from close.
In the city of Damghan, in the province of Semnan, in a complex that includes valuable historical and cultural structures, a long-standing caravanserai has been built. Close to this structure, the Cheheldekhtaran Tower (surviving from the 5th lunar century) and the Timurid tomb of Shahrokhieh (from the 9th century) can be seen. It has become a center for acquiring knowledge of the history of Damghan. Jahangardi guesthouse is among the newly built structures near the carvansarai. All of these (in addition to historical and cultural values) are also very important from the point of view of tourism.
Shah Abbas carvansarai in Damghan, as its name suggests, was built during the Safavid era and in the 11th lunar century. Its architectural style also reflects the art of that historical period. Like other structures, it has a porch and a central courtyard, and it is considered a desert caravanserai in architectural classifications. This caravanserai was built on a historical road known as the Silk Road, and it was a place for caravans traveling from China to Europe. Iran was one of the most crucial routes on this road.
Damghan Caravanserai’s Features:
Shah Abbas carvansarai has a width of 2600 sqm. It has four porches and many rooms, and its drinking water is supplied from the reservoir inside the structure. This caravanserai was built with clay and bricks, and they refrained from using decorative elements. Its chambers are 20 in number. The main entrance of the carvansarai is built in two stories. Regarding the porches, the north porch is also built in two stories. Its central courtyard, which is 31 by 21 square meters, is rectangular. It is clear that the camel and livestock sheds are behind the chambers.
The architecture of the Damghan caravanserai is twined arches. Among the traditional architects of Iran, the groin is called the load-bearing beams of arched roofs that transfer the pressure load of the structure to the side and bottom walls.
the four porches of the carvansarai are symmetric and have a large room for VIP passengers plus a smaller room. Among its other features is the pond in the central courtyard of the structure, which looks beautiful. Although we mentioned that the use of decorations was avoided in the construction of the caravanserai, its interior space, with all its simplicity, is pleasing to the eye and soothing, especially its brickwork, which gives it a self-decorated view. With the changes that took place in traveling systems and the consequent end to the use of carvansarais, this structure also changed its use. It was used as a military barracks in the last half-century.
This change caused some changes in the carvansarai’s chambers. By drawing blades, the chambers were divided into smaller sections. But then, the Damghan Cultural Heritage Department took over the structure and had it renovated.
In 1389 (2010), the Secretary General of the Cultural Heritage Department of Semnan province informed that after the restoration work, this caravanserai would turn into a “cultural/historic museum of Damghan city” (Dey 1389 report of Donya Eghtesad website). But surprisingly, this historical structure was handed over to the private sector in 1400 (2021). It was said that this work “has been handed over to the private sector investor for restoration, restoration, and exploitation.” Its contract is for 20 years old (report of IRNA News Agency – Amordad 1400). To what extent is the private sector committed to maintaining such an ancient and historic structure is a question that inevitably arises!
