Borj-e Khan

Borj-e Khan is one of the most distinctive historic buildings in Bushehr Province. It stands in the town of Bandar Rig, in Genaveh County. This valuable mansion was built in 1777 CE on the orders of Khan Ali Khan Hayat Davoudi, a well-known local khan, and for many years served as the residence and the political and administrative seat of the Hayat Davoudi family. With more than two centuries of history, Borj-e Khan is an outstanding example of "Beit Hilani" architecture in southern Iran, a style with similar examples in the countries along the Persian Gulf. Thanks to its architectural and cultural value, it is today one of the most important tourist attractions of Bandar Rig and Bushehr Province.

The architecture of Borj-e Khan follows a central courtyard plan, and the building consists of an inner section (andaruni) and an outer section (biruni). A pool stands in the middle of the courtyard, with the rooms built around it. The building has two storeys, and each floor has two rooms of roughly 5 by 5 metres with corridors between them. On the main façade there is a veranda, or tarmeh, supported by 14 columns, which gives the building a magnificent appearance. The roof of the tower is decorated with column capitals adorned with spherical studs, facing the Persian Gulf and giving the impression of guards watching over the tower. The main building materials are porous stones made of coral, shells, scallops and marine fossils, and the construction also used sarooj mortar, sandalwood, teak and natural reed matting. Delicate geometric woodwork (gereh-chini), artistic stucco, coloured crescents, louvred wooden windows, wooden mirror frames and decorations inspired by plant and animal motifs double the beauty of this historic mansion.

To visit Borj-e Khan, you need to travel to the town of Bandar Rig in the north of Bushehr Province. The building is in the southern part of the town and can be reached via the Bushehr–Genaveh coastal road and the main streets of Bandar Rig. The best time to visit is from late autumn to early spring, as the weather on the Persian Gulf coast is milder in these seasons and conditions are suitable for walking around and visiting historic buildings. During your visit, please do not touch the decorations, damage any historic parts, write graffiti on the walls or leave litter in the grounds, so that this valuable heritage is preserved for future generations.