Maranjab Caravansarai
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Maranjab8.jpg/221px-Maranjab8.jpg)
The Maranjab Caravansarai is a caravanserai in the Maranjab Desert, located to the north of Aran o Bidgol city in Isfahan province, Iran. It was constructed by order of Shah Abbas in 1603 and located along the Silk Road, between Khorasan and Isfahan provinces.[1]
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C_%DA%A9%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B1_%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%A8_-_panoramio.jpg/335px-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C_%DA%A9%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B1_%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%A8_-_panoramio.jpg)
Constructed along the Silk Road in 1603, the caravanserai was used by travelers from China and Europe for many years. It was also used as a fortress, with 500 soldiers to protect travelers against bandits and to fight against possible military attacks from countries to the east, such as Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.[2]
In 2000 Iran's historical heritage association instituted a project to repair the building, which continued until 2004. Since then it has been used as a tourist attraction.[3]
Structure
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Maranjab6.jpg/220px-Maranjab6.jpg)
The 3,500-square-metre (38,000 sq ft) rectangular building has 29 rooms and is totally made of bricks.
The fortified exterior walls have six watchtowers for archers and scout troops.[4]
Tourist attraction
Being in the middle of a desert, the caravanserai attracts numerous desert lovers. The main tourist attractions of the area are off-road driving, astronomy and camel riding.[5]
References
- ^ "کاروانسرای مرنجاب". تیشینه (in Persian). Retrieved 2016-12-31.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "قلعه مرنجاب". www.irandeserts.com. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
- ^ "کاروانسرای مرنجاب, بنایی در قلب کویر". Aftabir.com. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
- ^ "کاروانسرای مرنجاب, بنایی در قلب کویر". Aftabir.com. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
- ^ "کاروانسرای مرنجاب". www.makanbin.com. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
External links
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![Iran](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/23px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png)
- Mahyar Caravansarai
- Maranjab Caravansarai
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Amin_Abad_old_caravanserai_1.jpg/130px-Amin_Abad_old_caravanserai_1.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Moshir_Caravansary_03.jpg/130px-Moshir_Caravansary_03.jpg)
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- Lat Caravansarai
34°17′57″N 51°48′45″E / 34.2991°N 51.8124°E / 34.2991; 51.8124