Hoz-e Soltan Caravanserai

Hoz-e Soltan Caravanserai, also known as Robat-e Hoz-e Soltan, is one of the historical attractions of Qom Province. It is located in Qom County, in the Central District, near the village of Cheshmeh Shur. The caravanserai stands on the Tehran–Qom route, in the southern plains of Kuhmareh, beside the remains of an earlier caravanserai from the Safavid era. Iran's position on the east–west trade routes and the Silk Road led to the construction of many caravanserais across the country, and Qom Province, which lies on one of the major transport corridors, has long hosted such buildings. Hoz-e Soltan Caravanserai is one of these historical structures and is registered on Iran's National Heritage list.

The present building of Hoz-e Soltan Caravanserai was constructed during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, and its architecture differs in several respects from that of many other Iranian caravanserais. It has a main courtyard with perfect symmetry, iwans, three columned halls in three corners of the building, and platforms between the columns. On either side of the entrance gate there were rooms for guards and two teahouses, and the corridors beside the iwans led to the stables. Next to one of the iwans, a staircase led up to the upper floor. Other parts of the complex included a hall with four tanureh (domed chimney-like ventilation shafts), a water reservoir (ab-anbar) for storing water, rooms around the courtyard, and spacious stables. At the front of the caravanserai there was a second courtyard with arcades, where caravan travellers took shelter during dust storms and scorching winds. In the southwest part of the forecourt there was also a bathhouse, consisting of one large room serving as the changing room and main hall (sarbineh) and two small rooms, one for washing and the other with a small pool for bathing; the bathhouse furnace was located beneath the complex. After the creation of Hoz-e Soltan Lake, the access route to the caravanserai was cut off, and after a while the building fell out of use and was left abandoned.

To reach Hoz-e Soltan Caravanserai, you need to turn off the middle of the Tehran–Qom Freeway onto the road to Cheshmeh Shur village and follow the route towards Ghaleh Ghermez. However, travel along this route is restricted and the caravanserai lies within a military zone, so visiting the building itself is not possible, and you should avoid entering side roads and prohibited areas. There are no amenities, tourist facilities or shops for several kilometres around the caravanserai, and mobile phone coverage is weak. Since the site lies in a dry, open landscape, it is best to choose the cooler seasons of the year for exploring the surrounding area. While in the surrounding nature, avoid leaving litter, damaging vegetation, or travelling off the permitted routes. Also, given the restricted access to the building, any visit or nature trip in this area must comply with the existing regulations and restrictions.