Kargi Han

LOCATION
This han is located on the Antalya-Alanya road, 27 km to the north of Taşağıl, a coastal village 45 km east of Antalya. It is on the Kayı River, just past the village of Beydığın. Brown indicator signs clearly mark the road to the han through the Köprülü Canyon forest.[map]. It is located just below the Kesikbeli gorge. This road, linking Antalya to Beyşehir and Konya, is the shortest route between Antalya and Konya. It has been used since Roman times.

OTHER NAMES
The name of this han means the "Lance" han, a possible military reference.

As the inscription plaque has been lost, this date is proposed by stylistic analysis with the Kirkgöz and Şarafşa Hans, built by the same Sultan, Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev II (1236-46)

DESCRIPTION
The entrance to the han faces the south. Its large dimensions and outstanding stone workmanship are impressive. It is particularly interesting because it retains almost all of its original features, notably the raised loading dock platforms complete with fodder basins.

The plan consists of closed rooms on the front, rear and right sides and open rooms on the left. The closed rooms are lit by narrow slit windows in the ceiling of each one, the others have no openings to natural light.

Southern (front) section: there are 3 closed rooms to the right (east) of the entrance, and 2 to the left, which were undoubtedly service rooms. Eastern section: The 6 closed rooms on the right side of the courtyard (east side) are small (approx. 5 x 3 m); with the last one serving as a mosque. There are no interior connections between the rooms, nor. This room to the rear of the right side of the courtyard, reached by 2 steps (80cm above ground level), has a mihrab niche and most probably served as the mosque. The room is larger than the others on this side (6.5 x 3.8m).
Northern (back) section: To the rear of the han, there are two arcaded closed vaults for stabling animals.

Western section: The left 7 open arcade rooms were most certainly used for storage of goods and as a lading dock, as they have slightly raised platforms in carved stone. These platforms retain almost all of their original features, and comprise the most interesting feature of this han.

The han had a simple bathhouse structure, of rectangular shape, 6m wide x 10 long 5 meters, located right in front of the han on the right (east) side of the façade. Although in ruins, one can distinguish the 3 sections: the furnace, caldarium and tepedarium.

The han is located in an isolated site, in the forests of the Köprülü Canyon, along the old Alanya-Konya route. To reach this han one must climb a considerable distance. To build a han here in such an isolated spot reinforces the importance of ensuring a connecting link for the trade between the south coast and the inland.

The water source is the Kargi river which runs directly east of the han, and loops down around in front of it.

The door is very simple, with little decoration. As this was a high-up, out-of-the-way han, little decoration would have been lavished on it. It was built on a modest budget.
The inscription over the portal is lost, as well as the one over the portal of the large room to the right of the entrance.

There are several mason's marks on the stones. No spolia was used in the construction of the han.

DIMENSIONS
Total area: 2,500m2
Area of hall: 517m2
Area of courtyard: 785m2 (11.50 x 45m)

STATE OF CONSERVATION, CURRENT USAGE
Due to its isolated location in a protected National Park, this han is in a good state of preservation. It stands all alone in serene and stunning countryside, nestled snug among the mountains and pine forests. The setting of the han next to the babbling stream lends great charm to the site.

Erdmann, Kurt. "Der Kargi Han bei Alanya." In Kunst des Orients III. Weisbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1959, p. 1-12.
Hillenbrand, fig. 6.54, p. 552