750 thousand visitors are expected to Sultanhanı Caravanserai this year

Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat by Silk Road It was built in 1229 to ensure the security of both accommodation and trade route. Sultanhani Caravanserai aims to increase the number of visitors.

by UNESCO in 2014. World Heritage Tentative ListSultanhanı Caravanserai, which was taken to Istanbul, is located at the entrance of Sultanhanı district on the Konya-Aksaray highway.

The caravanserai, built by Muhammed Bin Havlan from Şam, who is also the architect of the Alaaddin Mosque in Konya, has a two-part plan consisting of a summer part with a cloistered courtyard and a closed hall, the walls of which are made of cut stone supported by towers.

The caravanserai, which is visited by thousands of local and foreign tourists every year, includes a hammam, prayer room, private rooms for passengers, halls and warehouses.

Sultanhanı Mayor Fahri Solak said that Sultanhanı Caravanserai is one of the largest caravanserais in Turkey and the world.

Stating that the caravanserai was entrusted to them by the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat, Solak said:

„We started the restoration works in our caravanserai in 2017. The works in the caravanserai were completed and opened to tourism in 2020. The number of tourists is increasing day by day. There is no such structure elsewhere, which has both marble doors and preserves its originality up to 90 percent. Last year, 500 thousand local and foreign tourists visited our caravanserai.

Solak stated that they are carrying out many projects so that more people visit the Sultanhanı Caravanserai.

Emphasizing that there are positive returns in terms of reservations for this year, Solak said, „We expect 750 thousand foreign visitors to the caravanserai in 2023. Hopefully, we will achieve this goal. We also placed carpets that are identified with the Sultanhanı district in our caravanserai. The incoming groups like it very much. We will also organize various activities for our tourists.“ .

„WE COME TO VISIT TO KNOW THE SELJUK AND THE OTTOMAN“

Solak stated that after the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, visits were canceled in February and March, but this situation will be overcome in mid-April.

Stating that most visitors come to the caravanserai from Latin America, Solak said:

„When we look at the first 3 months of this year, we have a lot of guests from the same region. Then the Italians prefer it the most. Because they held a competition in the caravanserai last year. It had a great impact. When we talk to people from Latin American countries, they tell us that they are impressed by Turkish TV series and come to visit. They come to visit the Seljuks and the Ottomans. The number of tourists is increasing day by day.“

French tourist Lucie Stoffel said that she came to Turkey with her friend.

Stoffel said that there are many places to discover in Turkey.