Dayahatyn Caravanserai

Dayahatyn stands alone in open desert on the old route between Amul and Khorezm along the Amu Darya, a square caravanserai of the eleventh or twelfth century built of fired brick around a courtyard with corner towers, and the surviving facade carries brick patterning and inscription bands of unusual quality for a roadside building. It is among the best preserved caravanserais of its period anywhere on the Silk Roads.

What you'll find

• The brick facade - patterning and inscription bands of unusual quality.
• The courtyard plan - the square building with its corner towers and cells.
• The desert setting - the caravanserai standing alone with nothing around it.
• The route - the old road between Amul and Khorezm along the Amu Darya.

When to go

April to May and September to October are the workable months. Summer heat in the open desert is dangerous. The track can be soft after rain.

Practical notes

There is no shade, water or facility at the site. The track off the main road is rough and needs a suitable vehicle. Restoration work has been heavy in places.

Nearby

Turkmenabat is southeast, and Amul is beside it.