Orbelian's Caravanserai

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Raffi Berberian Photography

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Orbelian's Caravanserai

Orbelian's Caravanserai was built in 1332, by prince Chesar Orbelian for travelers and their animals as they crossed from, or into, the Vayots Dzor province of Armenia. This building is an excellent example of Armenian secular architecture in the Middle Ages, and it was very important for the branches of the silk road which went through this area of Armenia.

The Orbelian Caravanserai was built in 1332, by prince Chesar Orbelian to accommodate travelers and their animals as they crossed from, or into, the mountainous Vayots Dzor region of Armenia. This building is an excellent example of Armenian secular architecture in the Middle Ages and it was very important for the branches of the silk road which went through this area of Armenia.

The whole façade is crowned with a six-tier muqarnas vault next to which are placed images of a lion to the left, and a bull to the right.
More reminiscent of Islamic decorations.

The whole façade is crowned with a six-tier muqarnas vault next to which are placed images of a lion to the left, and a bull to the right.

An inscription by the entrance reads: "In the name of the Almighty and powerful God, in the year 1332, in the world-rule of Busaid Khan, I Chesar son of Prince of Princes Liparit and my mother Ana, grandson of Ivane, and my brothers, handsome as lions, the princes Burtel, Smbat and Elikom of the Orbelian nation, and my wife Khorishah daughter of Vardan [and ...] of the Senikarimans, built this spiritual house with our own funds for the salvation of our souls and those of our parents and brothers reposing in Christ, and of my living brothers and sons Sargis, Hovhannes the priest, Kurd and Vardan. We beseech you, passers-by, remember us in Christ. The beginning of the house {took place} in the high-priesthood of Esai, and the end, thanks to his prayers, in the year 1332."

The stalactite style entrance.

Located only 15.5 miles (25km) south of Lake Sevan, Vardenyats Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 2410m (7,906ft) above the sea level and provides access to the lake and the Gegharkunik region from the southern Vayots Dzor region of Armenia. Many species of birds use this route during migration season and this was also a very important pass for the silk road!

Such an interesting place to see, every part of the building was designed to have a function and it is still preserved for us to see today. Especially cool because it is a secular (non-religious) construction since most of the history we can see today are churches and monasteries.

The Caravanserai was unfortunately ruined in the 15th-16th centuries but it was renovated in 1956-1959 and today is the best preserved caravanserai in Armenia.

The stone roof is very solid.

The beautiful interior is a single hall divided into three naves, with seven pairs of pillars. Animals rested in the narrow aisles to the left and right of the main hall.

The roof above the three-aisled hall had three parallel vaults with an oculus (window) in each. The vaults were supported by arches that stretched from pillar to pillar along the aisles, and traversed from the pillars to the walls. Oculi placed in the middle of each of the vaults served the purpose of letting in sunlight and fresh air, while also letting out smoke. These are the only other areas of the caravanserai that have ornamentation besides the decoration found at the entry vestibule.

The view a resting animal might have had!

Between the pillars were stone troughs for the animals, and in the corner of one of the halls was a pool of water. Travelers slept in a separate room built at the end of the narrow aisles on the western side of the caravanserai.

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