Creating new touristic fashion routes with caravanserais on the ancient silk road in Turkey

Abstract

In this study, caravanserais from Denizli to Dogubayazit which were taken to the tentative heritage list of UNESCO in 2000, will be extensively reviewed and recommendations will be made for the planning of touristic routes as the part of tourism development strategy in Central and Eastern Anatolia. The caravanserais were inherited by Anatolia Seljukis from Karakhanids and Ghaznavids and they offered comfort to travellers with the core structures of the society. Today, beside accommodation, event management or gastronomy activities, there will be alternative approaches for them to become the part of cultural tourism and touristic fashion roads. Nine of forty caravanserais on this route will be examined according to UNESCO list and rest of buildings will be eventually searched after this study and a reasonable planning. These caravanserais can be counted as follows: Akhan, Ertokus Han, Saadettin Han, Obruk Han, Agzikarahan, Sultan Han, Oresin Han, Mamahatun Caravenseria and Hacibekir Han (Unesco, 2000).