The Silkroad
The development of the tourism industry has played
an important part in the economy of the world in recent years.
The volume of the rapidly developing tourism industry has increased
an average of 7.4 percent per year for the last 40 years.
While the tourism industry is developing throughout the
world, tourism investments in the Republic of Türkiye have also
increased. Investments and advertisement have
substantially increased tourism in Türkiye.
The Turkish Ministry of Tourism functions to promote various types
and aspects of tourism throughout the whole country. This is because
Türkiye is not only a land of sea, sun and sand, but also a treasure
house of historical, cultural and natural attractions.
There are many caravansaries on the ancient Silk Road. These Silk
Road Caravansaries are one of the most important cultural heritages
of Türkiye, because the Silk Road connected Europe to Asia not only
commercially, but also reflected the culture and religion of
various people. Many of the caravansaries have been restored and are
open to the public.
The Silk Road played an important role in the freedom of the Turkic
Republics in Middle Asia and contributed to their commercial and
cultural value. Two caravansaries which were at the beginning of
their routes are in Denizli. These are the Ak Han and Cardak Han
Caravansaries.
Akhan Caravansary
It is located at the entrance
of Ak Han village, at about the 7th km of the Denizli-Afyon Highway.
It is one of the last caravansaries of the Anatolian Seljuks on the
west. It looks like the Sultan Hans only smaller.
Ak Han has two inscriptions.
The indoor parts of the Han were completed in 1253, and the garden was
completed in 1254. Ak Han was built by Governor Seyfettin Karasungur
bin Abdullah. Izzettin Keykavus’ name is mentioned in the inscription.
Its outdoor section does not have a symmetrical plan. It has a
square garden and a deep rectangular hole. That part of the structure
covers 1100 square meters. The indoor part is symmetrical along its
longitudinal axis and is divided into three courtyards. The
central courtyard is wider and higher and is covered by domes. A
low arch extends half a meter outward to form an entranceway which
leads to a portal surrounded with niches like pointed arches. The
inscription found above the door and the door itself are quite
simple in design. The right side of the open courtyard
has two storage rooms, one antechamber, and two enclosed units
while the other side has a portico and enclosed spaces together at
the corner and forms two spaces with arches.
The entrance to the building’s
courtyard has impressive geometric and pictorial ornamentation. The most
important decorations of the portal rival those of the Konya-Karatay
Han. Deer, sphinxes, birds, eagles, lions, and demons with associated
animal figures and Swastika motifs make this a rich piece of
decoration. The Han is constructed of worked stone, although the stone
in the enclosed part and the east part of the courtyard don’t show
very careful workmanship. The original smooth marble facing is only
found on the south and west parts of the courtyard, the internal
part of the walls also consist of rough worked stone. There are
reused stones taken from other structures both inside and outside the
building.
Çardakhan Caravansary
The Han is just outside
sub-provincial center of Cardak on the left side of The
Denizli-Afyon Road. According to the seven-lined inscription above the
door, the Han was built by order of Esedettin Ayaz Bin Abdullah El
Sahabi by his freed slaves in the time of Alaeddin Keykubat. It
appears to have been completed in 1230 in the month of
Ramadan. The Han faces exactly from east to west with a large,
square courtyard divided into six sections with five courtyards and a
hole.
The Han was known as ‘Hanabat’ when it was a part of the
sub-province of Dinar. Our sources indicate that it was used as a
store during the war of independence.