Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of Ganja

The Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of Ganja is a historic caravanserai in Ganja, Azerbaijan, built by order of the Iranian Shah Abbas Safavi. Construction began in 1606 under the direction of Sheikh Bahaeddin, and the two-story baked red brick building was commissioned in 1613–1614. The caravanserai was connected to the Chokak Hamam and the Shah Abbas Mosque by underground roads, forming part of a larger historic urban ensemble. The building is quadrangular with two courtyards; plane trees are planted along the back yard. Its central part has eight small arched balconies, with large arched balconies on the sides. The caravanserai includes a basement, a kitchen, small and large guest rooms, stables for pack animals, an open-air teahouse in the yard, and numerous storage rooms. The first floor consists of 17 large arches and is windowless, with cone-shaped slits for guards; the stairs to the second floor have 44 steps. The dome above the high interior features an eight-pointed star grid pattern. The caravanserai had 54 single rooms, 15 large rooms, a shack, a dining room, a tea room, a roof and storerooms. Over its long history the monument suffered damage, notably during the 1905 massacre in Ganja when it was burned. After the Bolshevik occupation of Azerbaijan, the caravanserai operated until 1930. In the 1970s, the Shah Abbas and Ugurlu Khan caravansaries underwent restoration and beautification under artist Javanshir Mammadov, and museums including the "Azerbaijani miniatures" museum and the "Mahsati Ganjavi" museum of women's creativity were established there. A statue of the poet Mahsati Ganjavi was placed on the facade. On 2 August 2001, by decision No. 132 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the monument was included in the list of immovable historical and cultural monuments of national importance. Since 2011, restoration works have been carried out; one million red bricks produced in Shaki were used, and a lime-and-sand mixture was mainly used as in the 17th century. Additional buildings from clumsy Soviet-era repairs were demolished. The Shah Abbas caravanserai was restored together with the adjacent Ugurlu Khan Caravanserai; both have 120 rooms, a 900 m2 corridor, 4 internal and 3 external entrances. After restoration, it functions as a hotel complex.

The construction of the caravanserai was started in 1606 by the order of Shah Abbas Safavi. The design and construction of the building was headed by Sheikh Bahaeddin. The two-story building made of baked red bricks was commissioned in 1613–1614. The caravansary was connected to Chokak Hamam and Shah Abbas Mosque by underground roads. Russian poet Yakov Polonsky stayed in the Shah Abbas caravanserai for a few days while visiting Ganja in the middle of the 19th century. Later, in 1847, he published his impression of the city and this caravanserai in the essay "Ganja" published in the 21st issue of the Zakavkazsky vestnik newspaper. During the massacre committed by Armenians in Ganja in 1905, this caravanserai was also burned and the monument was severely damaged. Regarding the burning of the caravanserai, Firidun bey Kocharli wrote in his memoirs: "In 1905, ... did not survive because of the Armenian tribe. Shah Abbas caravanserai burned down." After the occupation of Azerbaijan by the Bolsheviks, the caravanserai operated until 1930. In the 1970s, the Shah Abbas and Ugurlu Khan caravansaries underwent complex artistic design, restoration and beautification works under the guidance of artist Javanshir Mammadov. Later, the "Azerbaijani miniatures" museum and "Mahsati Ganjavi" museum of women's creativity were established in the caravanserai. A statue of the poet Mahsati Ganjavi was placed on the facade of the building. The monument was included in the list of immovable historical and cultural monuments of national importance by the decision No. 132 issued by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 2 August 2001. The Ganja Humanitarian College was located in the building of the caravanserai for a while. Since 2011, the restoration works of the caravanserai have been started. One million pieces of red bricks produced in Shaki were used in the construction and restoration works. As in the 17th century, a mixture of lime and sand was mainly used in the renovation work. In order to preserve the historicity of the caravanserai, which underwent clumsy repairs several times during the Soviet era, the previously built additional buildings were demolished. The strengthening of the historical monument has been completed, the damaged parts have been repaired, and communication lines have been built. The roof of the caravanserai was replaced, the right wall of the facade, which was in danger of collapsing, was restored, and all the cells and rooms of the building were restored to their previous appearance. The Shah Abbas caravanserai was restored together with the adjacent Ugurlu Khan Caravanserai. Both caravanserais have 120 rooms, 900 m2 corridor, 4 internal and 3 external entrances. After restoration, it functions as a hotel complex.

• 2011

  Restoration works of the caravanserai started.

• 2001

  Included in the list of immovable historical and cultural monuments of national importance by Cabinet of Ministers decision No. 132 on 2 August 2001.

• 1970

  In the 1970s, restoration and beautification works were carried out under artist Javanshir Mammadov; museums were established.

• 1930

  The caravanserai operated until 1930 after the Bolshevik occupation of Azerbaijan.

• 1905

  The caravanserai was burned and severely damaged during the massacre in Ganja.

• 1847

  Russian poet Yakov Polonsky published his impression of Ganja and the caravanserai in the essay "Ganja".

• 1613

  The two-story baked red brick building was commissioned (1613–1614).

• 1606

  Construction of the caravanserai started by order of Shah Abbas Safavi.

A restored 17th-century caravanserai operating as a heritage hotel and cultural complex in Ganja.

• Restored caravanserai hotel complex

• Azerbaijani miniatures museum

• Mahsati Ganjavi museum of women's creativity

1. 1Shah Abbas Caravanserai, Ganja - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of Ganja - Wikidatawikidata.org