Lorestan caravanserais on the path of ancient history and civilization

Passing from house to house of ancient history and civilization on the way of Lorestan caravanserais with special and unique architecture is a long history story of an ancient and culturally rich habitat in the province.

According to IRNA, the land of Lorestan has been the birthplace of the civilization of ancient cities for the past millennia, and historical monuments with different functions and historical remains within the boundaries of this province (Fili, Bakhtiari, South and its surrounding lands) are a clear proof of the historical antiquity of this land. Is.

The historical history of Lorestan tells about the first human habitation in this land and the historical monuments left from the distant past point to the cultural and social functions that created the ancient rituals and traditions of this land.

The ancient land of Lorestan, with its many natural and geographical capacities, has always been the focus of different civilizations and governments, and in this way, unique ancient and historical monuments belonging to three prehistoric periods, ancient and Islamic Iran, have been found in this land. It is remembered.

Since Lorestan was located on the road of the “Royal Road” in the distant past, a rich and ancient culture is woven into the fabric of the history of this province, and the traces of the rich history can be seen among its ancient monuments.

On the other hand, some ancient and cultural works such as patterns and carvings inside caves, bronze objects and pottery, have a history of more than 40,000 years, which tells about the 40,000-year history of life in this land.

More than 250 residential caves and rock shelters, such as Pasangar Ganji Qamari, Hayda, Kogan, Gar Arjeneh and the amazing Kalmakreh caves in different parts of Lorestan, have given this land a special and spectacular effect.

Five thousand unique ancient works and three thousand 200 ancient works registered in the list of national monuments are also part of the history and ancient culture of Lorestan, and amazing historical buildings such as Flak El Aflak Castle, Broken Bridge, Stone Whirlpool, Unbroken Stone and Brick Minaret. It is one of the other buildings in Khorramabad, the center of Lorestan, from the Sassanid era and before that, in this land, it is like a precious gem that adorns the cultural and historical richness of the province.

Among the historical monuments left in Lorestan, caravanserais are the narrators of untold stories from the history and travelers from north to south of Iran, who are considered an ancient relic of the culture and geography of this province, and they are the narrators of the history hidden in this border and landscape from house to house.

The land of Lorestan, in addition to benefiting from the unique capacities of tourism, is located on the route of the transit highway from the north to the south of the country, which geographical location has made this province a gateway for different ethnic groups since the distant past.

In this regard, one of the significant historical works and attractions in this province is the existence of caravanserais, which were regularly built every 6 and a half farsakhs for the accommodation and rest of travelers during the Safavid period, and now after the passage of years, the existence of caravanserais, every Which window has been opened to the ancient history and civilization of the hospitable people of this land.

Among the most important of these caravansaries are Mirza Seyed Reza caravansary in the center of Khorram Abad city, Qalarzeh (Rozman or Razmanan fort), Mehedah, Nasir castle, Chamshak and Shahneshah corner, more than 50% of these caravanserais have been registered in the national register.

Lorestan’s 11 caravanserais on the way to the 2 big historical capitals of Iran

Director General of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Lorestan said: Lorestan is located on the route of the Shahi Road from Shush to Hamedan as the 2 big historical capitals of Iran. During the Achaemenid period, Shush was the tropical capital and Hamedan was the cold-climate summer capital.

Ata Hasanpour stated that the boundary between the lands of Taft and Khuzestan Plateau is the Zagros Mountains and stated: Lorestan is the boundary of these lands and in the past when the Achaemenids had a chapel, they chose the shortest route to transmit news and information. the main road that the caravans and the royal carriage passed through was Mesopotamia, so the mountains of the province were the best route for the transmission of news and the passage of couriers, and the current caravanserais of Lorestan were used as hostels.

He continued: On the other hand, the meadows of Lorestan and the weather conditions of this province were a suitable route for the passage of chapars and the rest of their horses, and these advantages of Lorestan made the path of the chaparkhanehs of Lorestan to be used from the Achaemenid period to the Islamic era.

He said: In the later periods, another royal route was created for the passage of caravans and troops, which was used more by building the historical bridges of Lorestan, including Zal, Gaumishan, Siah Pele, and Shapuri, and Lorestan’s castles in the Islamic period became The caravanserais became big.

He added: Along the route of the ancient Lorestan cultural area, the first caravanserai is located in present-day Andimeshk, named Qala Zere, and the second caravanserai is known as Charta.

Hasanpour said: After passing through the famous Kyalan pass, the caravans used to pass by the caravansaries of Sarogol, Mehudan, Bukan and Dehlij, and in the meantime, the caravansaries of Qala Nasir, Chamshak, Shahneshah, Mirza Seyed Reza, Chaglundi and Borujerd (Sarai Hafizi) present) were going their way.

Unique historical architecture of Lorestan caravanserais

Director General of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Lorestan said: The route of the caravanserais of the province has been the route of the Koch nomads since thousands of years ago, and the nomads of Lorestan, Hamedan, Turkashund and Balagrive pass through it.

Stating that Lorestan is one of the oldest ancient roads in Iran, he continued: Lorestan caravanserais have special and unique architectural features in addition to their historical antiquity and important uses throughout the history of this province.

Chamshak Caravanserai, which belongs to the Safavid period (Shah Abbas I) and is registered as number 2119 in the list of national monuments of Iran, is the only caravanserai that has three courtyards and is the second house from Khorram Abad to Khuzestan, after which the caravansaries of Nasir Castle. , Charta and Roza Castle are located.

He stated that this caravanserai is located on the slopes of Shahsak mountain on the ancient road from Shapur to Khuzestan, in the village of Pushteng Cheshk, and stated: its plan is almost square and stone, brick and plaster mortar are used in its construction.

Hasanpour added: Its gutters are made of stone and it has a rampart with decorative semicircular congresses, and its court is 12 x 25 meters, which is surrounded by 15 porticoes, the main shape of the building is quadrangular, and its height reaches five meters. It also has 12 rooms and is made of 2 parts, one part is used for the residence of caravans, the other part is used for the guards and the part is used for keeping the cattle.

He continued: There was a fence with four towers all around the caravanserai, the remains of which have remained, in total Chamshak caravanserai has 19 rooms, 2 stables and three courtyards, each room consists of 2 sections, the back section for keeping animals. And the front part was for caravans to stay.

He said: “Chamshak Caravanserai is located next to Khorram Abad-Pul Zal freeway and has a unique capacity for geotourism, which is 6 kilometers from this historic monument, Dastkand Kogan Cave, Cham tourism areas in Asiyab and Kadir.”

The caravanserai at the corner of Shahneshah is a unique work along with many historical signs

This archaeologist from Lorestan said: “The Caravanserai at the corner of the Shahneshah is located next to a historical cemetery with very beautiful tombs, in this cemetery is the tomb of the head of the Atabakan dynasty, and there are very beautiful and old pomegranate gardens next to this cemetery.”

Hasanpour added: There is also an ancient Dastkand cave, including the Dastkand caves of Kos mountain, near these caravansaries with 68 steps near the Shahneshah caravansary.

He said: There are also several old trees in this place that have been registered in the list of national monuments, and the only 400-year-old Zerbin tree has been found in this caravanserai, which has also been registered in the list of national heritage.

He said that the origin of the Zerbin tree is in Fars province and continued: In the caravanserai complex and the historic cemetery of Shahshanshah corner, four other mulberry trees, wild mulberry and wild pistachio trees are also registered nationally, which is unique in the country.

Hasanpour stated that this historical caravanserai is located in the village of Gushesha Shah near the city of Khorramabad and said: On the other hand, it is very close to the Azad Road of Khorramabad, Zal bridge and the airport, and it is considered a significant village in the field of tourism.

Lorestan caravanserais are registered globally

He stated: Now, in the cultural area of ​​Lorestan, 9 caravansaries out of the total of 11 caravanserais in the province are being studied and evaluated with the recent actions of the global registration of Iranian caravanserais by UNESCO as a chain of gardens, churches and aqueducts.

He stated: With the evaluations carried out in this regard, the caravanserais of Shahshanshah, Mirzasid Reza, Chamshak, Nasir Castle, and Ghale Nasir were studied and evaluated. One of the conditions for the international registration of caravanserais is to have no local conflicts, but unfortunately, the caravanserais of Ghale Nasir and Ghale Nasir have problems. are.

Hasanpour stated: “With the follow-ups, the Chamshek caravanserai has been included in the world heritage register, and the steps are being followed quickly, which will be completed by next year.”

He said that constructions have been done around and inside the caravanserais of Nasir Fort and Mehadeh, and he continued: These historical monuments have been restored and we are trying to prevent the destruction of these monuments by changing their use in order to maintain them.

Emphasizing that Lorestan’s historical caravanserais are a potential for tourism development, Hasanpour added: in the historical context of Khorramabad city, in addition to the existence of many historical houses, there are 11 caravanserais that are on the temporary list of the world register, and we are trying to increase this number of caravanserais during Next year, it will be registered globally as a chain, with Chashka Caravanserai and Shahshanshah Caravanserai being the priority.