Khoi historical market, a building left over from the Safavid era with 5 caravanserais

One of the best ways to enter the Khoi market is through a stone gate that in the past people used to pass through this gate, and today this gate is located in the south of the historical market and is a relic of the Ilkhani period of architecture in this city.

As soon as you enter the covered space of the market, you will encounter the vibrancy of people shopping, each of whom has come to this market to buy their necessities, from spices, seeds, and medicinal plants to electrical appliances, carpets, and handicrafts.

Each of the houses and rows of Khoi historical market belongs to a specific trade, for example goldsmiths, nut sellers, carpet sellers, coppersmiths, leather sellers, saddle makers, etc., in this market as before, there are some artisans active in this market. They have taken up their fatherhood and are still active in the market.

Khoi historical bazaar complex is located in the central core and the historical fabric of the city between Taleghani, Imam, Englebal and Sheikh Mahdi streets on the eastern side of the city. The history of this building is Safavid, but most of its parts were ordered by Abbas Mirza and by Amir Ahmad Khan Danbali in the early Qajar era. it was made.

During the Safavid era, Khoi Bazaar was one of the most important commercial centers of Azerbaijan, which was one of the commercial and export centers of Iranian goods due to its location on the Silk Road.

This market is considered one of the largest historical markets in the country, which includes several houses, schools, mosques and baths. The entrance to the market, like the historical markets, is made of a stone gate, which is one of the masterpieces of Iranian architecture.

Through the main street, the market has access to the secondary streets, corridors, quadrangles, squares and palaces and other religious and cultural places. The presence of four unique palaces, including Khan Palace, which is one of the most beautiful palaces, has given a special effect to this collection. and its size and special architecture captivates every visitor.

This bazaar was registered as one of the national works of Iran on 24 Khordad 1366 with registration number 1728. According to many, Khoi bazaar is one of the most beautiful bazaars in Iran after Tabriz, Isfahan and Shiraz bazaars, which is built in a rectangular shape.

Khan Caravanserai

There are five beautiful caravansary in the heart of Khoy covered bazaar, which include Khan caravansary, Kashmeshchilar, Belusi, Chitsaz and Mirzahashem caravansary. Khan caravansary is located next to the bazaar and on its western side, overlooking Taleghani street in the form of four porches.

Now its two porches remain in the north and east, and in the past they were the place for travelers and trade of domestic and foreign merchants. It is possible to enter the caravanserai through the wooden door on Taleghani street, the upper floor of which is made up of a wooden balcony, two other doors on the north side and Mashreq is related to the market, this caravanserai is attributed to Ahmad Khan Danbali, the ruler of Khoi, who was able to bring wealth to this city by providing security and opening the way for commercial caravans to Khoi.

The existence of numerous mosques such as Hojjatiyeh, Molhassan, Hajibaba, Sheikh, and Matlabkhan mosques shows the religiousness of the business of this market.

Because in the not-so-distant era of kasbah, before opening the shop, the clerics learned the lesson of Al-Makasab, and in this way, with the name and name of God, they started to earn a halal livelihood.

Because of this strong cultural background, historical bazaar traders consider fairness and customer orientation as the principles of earning a halal livelihood.

Matlabkhan Mosque, the largest open-air mosque in Iran

Among the mosques built in Bazar Khoi, one of the most important mosques is Matal Khan Mosque, which is located in the center of the city and at the beginning of Taleghani Street. This building is about 20 meters high with a large open nave surrounded by two-story cells And a lofty palace and a large porch have been formed.

The initial construction of this building was assigned to the Ilkhanid period, which was later destroyed and rebuilt in 1255 AH by Haj Matlab Khan, one of the descendants of Sheikh Bahai.

In Khoi market, people can buy souvenirs of this city and Azerbaijan, such as nuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkins, dairy products, dahlias, honey, and handicraft products such as traditional knitting, small fish carpets, saddles and hardware, while getting to know the culture, architecture, and customs of this city and Azerbaijan. do

250-year-old traditional barbecue in Khoy market

Khoi traditional kebab, which is registered in the list of intangible heritage of the country, has many customers in Khoi market, and cooking kebab in this market is 250 years old, and anyone who steps into this market cannot leave without eating kebab.

Report from Aziz Mirzaei, head of Khoy Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department