Mahperi Hatun (Pazar) Caravanserai

Mahperi Hatun (Pazar) Caravanserai

Mahperi Hatun Caravanserai is a magnificent example of Seljuk-era architecture that stands on the Tokat-Pazar road, around 29 kilometers away from Tokat, and approximately 1 kilometer from Pazar District. Constructed in 1238 by Mahperi Hatun, the wife of Alaeddin Keykubad and mother of II. Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev, the caravanserai was an essential stopover for caravans that traveled through the region for centuries.

Mahperi Hatun (Pazar) Caravanserai

The caravanserai is built using finely cut limestone blocks, and its classic Seljuk plan features an open courtyard with a covered section at the back. The most unique feature of the caravanserai is the external fountain set into a niche on the front wall to the left of the main entrance.

The caravanserai is also renowned for its intricate decorations, such as the holes carved at eye level on the corner edges of the square towers in front of the gateway used to tether camels. The room to the left of the main entrance may have served as a bank or treasury for merchants, as it was the most important area of the building. Above the door that leads into this area, there is a delicate strip of white marble adorned with lotus flowers and an intricate carving below it.

The decorations of the caravanserai are centered on the main entrance, which contains lateral niches and a frame of arabesques. The decoration is simple and elegant, featuring twisted ropes and chevrons. Despite being one of the most magnificent Seljuk-era caravanserais, Mahperi Hatun Caravanserai is relatively unknown and does not see many visitors.