Miandasht Caravansary
Mohammad Yusef Kiani
Reprinted from: Traditions Architecturales en Iran, Tehran, No. 2 and 3, 1976


Mian-dasht village is located 110 Km east of Shahroud, on the road to Sabzevar and Meshed. In fact, there are 3 caravansaries in the village. One is erected at Shah Abbas the Great and the other 2 were built in Qajar period. All 3 caravansaries are attached, forming, in effect, a complex unit. The Safavid Caravansary is small, 50x50 Sq. m.

This Caravansary is similar to Qousheh Caravansary, which appears oblong from outside, but is actually octagonal from inside.

Each of the four sides of the open courtyard contain 3 chambers, 3.20x3.90 m. There are also 2 chambers on the east and 2 on the west side of the courtyard, which altogether make a total of 16 chambers. On each side of the vestibule, there are 2 rectangular chambers, 2.30x5.60 m.

The structure is made of brick, and as is the case with several other caravansaries in this region, was repaired in Qajar era. Mian-dasht Caravansary is repaired in Islamic Republic, too.

The two other caravansaries in the complex are built on the same plan, but are larger, and the Shah Abbas Caravansary undoubtedly appears to be the nucleus of the unit.

There are 3 cisterns in the vicinity of the caravansaries and it houses 2000 travelers.