Sheki Caravanserai

The rapid development of trade in the Middle Ages saw many new caravanserais (an inn for travelers with a central courtyard) being built throughout Azerbaijan.

Caravanserais were generally built along the same lines as castles - with a huge gate that made them impregnable to invaders.

Construction of the Sheki Caravanserai, which covers 8,000 sq meters, began in the 18th century. It is built in two parts: "Yukhary" and "Ashaghy", which means upper and lower respectively. The front of the building, which overlooks the street, is 14 meters high.

The lower part is rectangular with four entrances, a large inner yard and a pool in the middle. The first floor had about 300 rooms and storerooms that were used by travelers and other guests.

Each room had a manhole that was connected to the ground floor via a stepladder, which made it easy for merchants to check on the safety of their goods stored on the ground floor.

In 1988, the lower caravanserai was turned into a hotel, the Yukhary Karavanserai Hotel. It contains a restaurant serving traditional Azerbaijani cuisine and 242 international standard rooms and suites. The upper part of the caravanserai is now a historical and architectural monument. Total area of the building is 6000 m2. There are about 300 rooms and store rooms in the upper part of the caravanserai.

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