Chah Kuran Caravanserai

Chah Kuran Caravanserai is one of the historic buildings of Ravar County in Kerman Province. It stands on the historic Khorasan road, about 55 km north of the city of Ravar. Built in a hot, arid region, it served as a roadside rest stop where caravans halted, travellers rested and pack animals were kept along the old routes. The building dates from the late Qajar period, and historical sources name Seyyed Hedayatollah Sirjani as its founder; the travelogue of Gholamhossein Khan Afzal al-Molk also mentions a caravanserai that Seyyed Hedayatollah Sirjani built for caravan travellers. Chah Kuran Caravanserai was added to Iran's National Heritage List on 28 Dey 1379 (Solar Hijri) under registration number 2946. In Shahrivar 1402 (Solar Hijri) it was also inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, together with other Iranian caravanserais, as part of the "Iranian Caravanserais" property. This gives it an important place among the historical heritage of Kerman Province.

Chah Kuran Caravanserai has a roughly square plan covering about 1,024 square metres, with each side about 32 metres long. The building has four corner towers, an entrance, a vestibule (hashti), cells around a central courtyard, small iwans with pointed arches, and spaces for keeping pack animals. Its structure follows the common pattern of Iran's rural caravanserais in desert regions. To enter, you first pass through the vestibule, which has cells on both sides, and then reach the central courtyard. The cells are arranged around the courtyard, and behind them ran corridors where the animals were kept. Domed roofing, khofteh-rasteh brickwork (bricks laid alternately flat and on edge) and pointed arches are among its architectural features. In the past there was a well with brackish water in the middle of the courtyard for the animals, and outside the caravanserai a qanat carried fresh water, of which only remains survive today. The building's position on one of the historic routes between Kerman and Khorasan, its capacity to host several caravans at once, and its world heritage listing alongside Iran's other historic caravanserais have all increased the historical and tourist importance of Chah Kuran. As for the origin of the name "Chah Kuran" ("Well of the Blind"), a local tale links it to the blinding of a number of people during the time of Nader Shah Afshar. Since historical accounts of this differ, the story is best regarded as a local tradition about the name of the building.

To reach Chah Kuran Caravanserai, head north from the city of Ravar along the Khorasan road. The building is about 55 km from Ravar, and because it lies outside any urban area, visiting by private car is the best option. As the region is hot and dry and the weather is less suitable in the warmer months, autumn and winter, and the cooler half of the year in general, are the better times to visit this historic building. About two hours should be enough to see the caravanserai, although exploring the historic route around it will take longer. Because the building is located outside the city, it is important to bring drinking water, wear suitable footwear and keep an eye on road and weather conditions. When visiting this historic monument, do not move or damage the building materials or the surviving parts of the structure, write graffiti on the walls, or leave litter on the site. To help preserve this heritage, stay on usable paths and avoid entering fragile parts of the building without permission.