Ezinepazar Hanı

In the past, people traveled from one city to another using horses or camels. Journeys took much longer than they do today, and travelers needed safe places to rest along the way. The Ezinepazar Hanı is a massive structure, like a roadside palace, built approximately 800 years ago to provide rest for weary travelers and their animals.

Ezinepazar Hanı (Generated by artificial intelligence)

Amasya and Tokat are connected by the road on which this han is located. It was commissioned by Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubad’s wife, Melike Mahperi Hatun. During that era, sultans placed great importance on constructing such buildings so that travelers could rest and eat free of charge. Although the exact year of construction is unknown, it is estimated to have been built between 1238 and 1246, based on other hans commissioned by Mahperi Hatun.^【1】

When you arrive at the entrance, you are greeted by a large, double-winged wooden door. Inside, you find yourself in long, spacious corridors. Along the side corridors, small stoves provided warmth and cooking facilities for travelers, while elevated platforms offered places to sleep. When the evening sun sets, the light filtering through small windows above the entrance casts a magical atmosphere throughout the interior.

Interior of Ezinepazar Hanı (Generated by artificial intelligence)

Ezinepazar Hanı, being an ancient structure, has worn down over time and required maintenance. During the Ottoman period, the han was repaired multiple times; an inscription above its entrance records that it was restored in 1650 by Mehmet Çavuş. Although it stood neglected for many years, a major restoration project in 2007 revived the structure and opened it to visitors.

Seljuk caravans (groups of traveling merchants) stayed in these hans. When Melike Mahperi Hatun commissioned this han, the calendar read the years 1238 to 1246. Since then, the han has sheltered thousands of travelers and their stories.