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OVERLAND CARAVAN3,200 km Total NetworkActive: 550 BCE – 1930 CE

Caravan Routes of the Persian Deserts

The roads that skirt and cross the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, joining the Silk Road cities of northern Iran to Yazd, Kerman and the Gulf ports.

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Type: overland-caravanMap centre: [56°, 31°]Line: YearMaps schematic line drawn between the documented towns and the OWTRAD halting places (T. M. Ciolek).

Places Along the Caravan Routes of the Persian Deserts

Great Salt Desert, on the Caravan Routes of the Persian Deserts
Great Salt DesertCC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Yazd, on the Caravan Routes of the Persian Deserts
YazdCC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ribat of Zein-o-din, on the Caravan Routes of the Persian Deserts
Ribat of Zein-o-dinCC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Commercial Genesis & Spatial Network

The central Iranian plateau is filled by two deserts, the salt Kavir and the sand and gravel Lut. Trade moved along their edges, from oasis to oasis, and in a few places straight across. One line ran from Rayy through Qom, Kashan, Nain and Yazd to Kerman. Another crossed the Kavir from Damghan to Jandaq. From Kerman, roads led south to the Gulf at Hormuz and later Bandar Abbas, and east through Bam into Baluchistan. Rulers from the Seljuks to the Safavids lined these roads with caravanserais, covered cisterns and wells; Shah Abbas I is credited by tradition with hundreds of them.

Economic Impact & Cultural Diffusion

Connected the overland Silk Road with the sea trade of the Gulf and India, and sustained the manufacturing cities of Yazd, Kashan and Kerman.

Caravanserais and Halting Places on This Route

58 caravanserais and 11 caravan halting places recorded within 40 km of the mapped line. A caravanserai is a roadside inn; a halting place is a named camping ground with no permanent building. How caravans travelled and how a caravanserai worked.

Amin od-Dowleh Caravansarai, Iran

Amin od-Dowleh Caravansarai

Caravanserai · Iran · 33.9842° N, 51.4487° E

Amin od-Dowleh Plaza (Persian: تیمچه امین الدوله) is one of several timchehs in the grand Bazaar of Kashan, Iran. The plaza was designed primarily for commerce, but in recent times has been used for important religious ceremonies. The most important of these is Muharram, during which Hai'ats sing elegies in the plaza about tragic events which happened to Hussain, the third Shi'a Imam, and his close relatives in Karbala on the day of Ashura. It used to be an important place on the Silk Road. Its chambers traditionally served as a place for trading rugs woven, either woven in the city or imported. There are also some old antique shops and teahouses in the Timche plaza.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Dayr-e Gachin, Iran

Dayr-e Gachin

Caravanserai · Iran · 35.0583° N, 51.4201° E

Deir-e Gachin Caravanserai (Persian: کاروانسرای دیر گچین) is a historic caravansarai in Iran, located in the center of Kavir National Park. Due to its historical significance and unique features, it is sometimes called the "Mother of Iranian Caravanserais." Situated in the Central District of Qom County, it lies 80 kilometers northeast of Qom (60 kilometers along the Garmsar Freeway) and 35 kilometers southwest of Varamin. This monument was added to Iran's National Heritage List on 23 September 2003. Along with 53 other sarais, Dayr-e Gachin was registered as The Persian Caravanserai of World Heritage Sites in 2023. Originally built during the Sasanian era, the caravanserai underwent restorations and reconstructions during the Seljuk, Safavid, and Qajar eras. Its current form dates back to the Safavid era. Deir-e Gachin Caravanserai is located on the ancient route from Ray to Isfahan. The structure of this caravanserai follows the Persian four-iwan design and spans an area of 12,000 square meters. The interior spaces include dedicated areas for people, livestock, services, convenience, and security.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Ribat of Zein-o-din, Iran

Ribat of Zein-o-din

Caravanserai · Iran · 31.4118° N, 54.7069° E

The Ribat of Zein-o-din or Zein-o-Din Caravanserai is located in Zein-o-din, Yazd, Iran. The Ribat dates to the 16th century and is situated on the ancient Silk Road. It is one of 999 such inns that were built during the reign of Abbas the Great to provide facilities to travelers. Of these, Zein-o-din is one of two caravanserais built with circular towers. After its refurbishment, it has operated as an inn. A similarly built caravanserai near Isfahan is in ruins.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

The Persian Caravanserai, Iran

The Persian Caravanserai

Caravanserai · Iran · 35.0583° N, 51.4201° E

The Persian Caravanserai (Persian: کاروانسراهای ایرانی) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site composed of 54 different caravanserais. It was inscribed in 2023. Caravanserais were roadside inns, which would provide shelter to travelers.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Vakil Caravanserai, Iran

Vakil Caravanserai

Caravanserai · Iran · 30.2914° N, 57.0808° E

Vakil Caravanserai (Persian: کاروانسرای وکیل) is located in the southern Iranian city of Kerman. It is one of the largest Caravanserais in the world. Vakil Caravanserai has 120 rooms in two floors. It was built around 1870 by the order of Mohammad Ismail Khan, the governor of Kerman.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo via Wikimedia Commons

All Recorded Stopping Places

NameTypeCountryCoordinates
Amin od-Dowleh CaravansaraiCaravanseraiIran33.9842° N, 51.4487° E
Dayr-e GachinCaravanseraiIran35.0583° N, 51.4201° E
Ribat of Zein-o-dinCaravanseraiIran31.4118° N, 54.7069° E
The Persian CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran35.0583° N, 51.4201° E
Vakil CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.2914° N, 57.0808° E
Abdul Ghaffar Khan Caravanserai (Majidabad)CaravanseraiIran34.8632° N, 50.5743° E
Abol-Qasem CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran31.8908° N, 54.3704° E
Alborz CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.7286° N, 50.9721° E
Aliabad Caravanserai (Mahan)CaravanseraiIran30.0830° N, 57.2776° E
Aliabad Caravanserai (Mehriz)CaravanseraiIran31.5946° N, 54.4661° E
Aliabad Stone CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran35.1194° N, 50.9892° E
Anar CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.8794° N, 55.2720° E
Anarak CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran33.3118° N, 53.7004° E
Anjireh Brick CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran32.1532° N, 54.4771° E
Anjireh Stone CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran32.1622° N, 54.4841° E
Bakhshi CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran33.9844° N, 51.4492° E
Balaabad CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran32.7423° N, 52.9011° E
Baqerabad CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.9303° N, 50.8234° E
Bar Andaz-e MianehCaravan halting placeIran34.7392° N, 54.5786° E
Bar Andaz-e Sar NamakCaravan halting placeIran34.4206° N, 54.5367° E
Bayaz CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.7013° N, 55.4473° E
Chehel Payeh CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran31.9401° N, 57.1404° E
Gabrabad CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran33.7687° N, 51.4896° E
Gahkom CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran28.1964° N, 55.8148° E
Galu Sefteh CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran29.8765° N, 56.2791° E
Ganjali Khan CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.2908° N, 57.0789° E
Gevan-e Taleb KhanCaravan halting placeIran27.9000° N, 59.2333° E
Golshan Caravanserai (Kerman)CaravanseraiIran30.2911° N, 57.0794° E
Haj Agha Ali CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.2929° N, 57.0790° E
Haj Mehdi Caravanserai (Kerman)CaravanseraiIran30.2892° N, 57.0775° E
Hauz-i-SultanCaravan halting placeIran35.1000° N, 51.1000° E
Hindu CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.2894° N, 57.0781° E
Hoca Kasım Natanz CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran33.7317° N, 51.6953° E
Hojjatabad Vazir CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran32.0314° N, 54.2080° E
Howz-e QorbanCaravan halting placeIran32.1833° N, 57.3667° E
Ibrahim Caravanserai (Sirjan)CaravanseraiIran29.4447° N, 55.6709° E
Jar CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.2915° N, 57.0793° E
Kabutarkhan CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.2932° N, 56.3615° E
Kashan New CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran33.9859° N, 51.4511° E
Kenargerd CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran35.3760° N, 51.2536° E
Khaneh Sorkh CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran29.8120° N, 56.0641° E
Khargur CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.0448° N, 56.7363° E
Khoshk RudCaravan halting placeIran31.4333° N, 58.2667° E
Kuhab CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran33.5169° N, 51.9061° E
Kuzeh Garan CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.2880° N, 57.0780° E
Malekabad Brick CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.7965° N, 51.0474° E
Manzariyeh CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.8912° N, 50.8199° E
Meybod CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran32.2279° N, 54.0093° E
Mirza Hoseyn Khan CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.2915° N, 57.0787° E
Mohammadabad Stone CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.8400° N, 51.1467° E
Moshir CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran31.8971° N, 54.3617° E
Naseriyeh CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.3472° N, 56.1301° E
Neyestanak CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran32.9712° N, 52.7993° E
Now Gonbad CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran32.6824° N, 53.3236° E
Pasangan CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.4790° N, 51.0622° E
PazahkanCaravan halting placeIran26.5500° N, 57.4000° E
Rashti CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran32.4408° N, 53.6310° E
Saadatabad CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran29.6502° N, 55.8158° E
Sadri CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran34.6706° N, 50.8169° E
Saiyid HidaiyatCaravan halting placeIran29.8000° N, 56.1000° E
Sar-e DarukanCaravan halting placeIran28.2333° N, 61.7833° E
Sardar CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.2906° N, 57.0800° E
Saryazd New CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran31.6056° N, 54.5314° E
Saryazd Old CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran31.6068° N, 54.5320° E
Shafiabad CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.5442° N, 57.7716° E
Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of AbuzeydabadCaravanseraiIran33.9025° N, 51.7646° E
SohroCaravan halting placeIran26.7500° N, 57.3500° E
TabasinCaravan halting placeIran31.2000° N, 57.9000° E
Wahabzadeh CaravanseraiCaravanseraiIran30.4082° N, 55.9869° E

Sources: Wikidata (caravanserais, CC0) and the OWTRAD project (halting places). All caravanserais and halting places

Logistics, Caravanserais & Overland Hazards

  • ▲Stages of 30 to 40 km between water points, set by the spacing of wells, cisterns (ab anbar) and caravanserais
  • ▲Salt crust in the Kavir can break under a loaded animal, so crossings kept to known tracks
  • ▲Summer heat forced caravans to march at night
  • ▲Raiding from Baluchistan made the south-eastern roads unsafe in periods of weak central rule

Custodial Empires & Polities

Sovereign states that safeguarded, taxed, or maintained garrisons along this route:

Achaemenid Persian EmpireSasanian EmpireSeljuk EmpireIlkhanateSafavid EmpireQajar Iran

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Darb Zubaydah (The Kufa–Mecca Pilgrim Road)1,400 km

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The King’s Highway and the Via Maris1,900 km

overland caravan • 2000 BCE – 700 CE

The Arabian Incense & Frankincense Route2,400 km

overland caravan • 1500 BCE – 300 CE

Nearby Routes in Other Regions

The Great Silk Road6,400 km

overland caravan • 130 BCE – 1453 CE

The Leh–Kullu Road and the Zanskar and Spiti Tracks480 km

overland caravan • 1600 CE – 1950 CE

The Grand Trunk Road (Uttarapatha)2,700 km

overland caravan • 300 BCE – Present Day