The
Seljuk Han of Anatolia
The
Seljuk Han of Anatolia
BASARAKAVAK HAN
A simple han which may have been originally built as a monastery.
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DISTRICT
42 KONYA
NAMES
Başaralı Han
LOCATION
The Başarakavak Han is located on the Konya-Afyon trade route, at the Tepeköy road junction. The site where the han stands consists of a swamp and reed beds.
DATE
The dating of this structure is a subject of debate, with differing views
attributing it to either the late Ottoman period (18th-19th century) or to the
era of the Karamanid Principality (14-early 15th centuries). It could even be
earlier than this, but it is doubtful that it was originally built in the Seljuk
era.
INSCRIPTION
There is no inscription plaque,
so there are no precise historical details.
BUILDING TYPE
Covered, no courtyard (C)
DESCRIPTION
The han
entrance faces west.
The entrance gate is wide and quite large. Opposite the wide and large arched doorway, there are two small windows. This structure is comprised of a covered section with rooms separated by arches and was constructed entirely with vaulted ceilings.
The structure is surmounted by a vaulted dome constructed of masonry. The arches are supported by pillars built of stone masonry. There is no open courtyard to the front. It is a single hall structure distinguished by a narrow and high entrance opening. Built of rough hewn stone, the structure features a robust architectural design with a roofing system composed of a central nave flanked by two side barrel vaults.
The architectural style is reminiscent of the icehouses found in the Konya region, although one researcher believes it may originally been built as a monastery, as there are traces of Byzantine era ruins in the area. The han is a remarkably sturdy edifice, crafted from cut stone with meticulous workmanship and featuring an interior of architectural merit.
DECORATION
There is no decoration.
DIMENSIONS
STATE OF CONSERVATION, CURRENT USE
The han was restored in 1941. It is completely intact. It is currently under private
ownership and is used as a livestock barn.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Erdmann, Kurt. Das Anatolische Karavansaray des 13. Jahrhunderts, 1961, no. 102.
https://kulturenvanteri.com/yer/basarakavak-hani/
Gündoğdu,
Mehmet. Konya’nın Fî Tarihi- 33,” Anadolu’da
Bugün, erişim tarihi 26 Nisan 2026, https://anadoludabugun.
Wimmel, Robin. Architektur
Osmanischer Karawanseraien: Stationen Des Fernverkehrs Im Osmanischen Reich.
Vol. 2. PhD diss., Technische Universität Berlin, 2016. Berlin: Technische
Universität Berlin, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.