Maranjab Castle

Guarding the Silk Road: The Legacy of Maranjab Caravansarai

• History of Maranjab Castle
• Tourist attraction
• Structure
• Sightseeing near Maranjab Castle

Maranjab Desert is one of the tourist attractions of Isfahan Province and is located in the north of Aran and Bidgol County, Kashan Province. Maranjab Desert reaches the "Mesileh Salt Lake" in Aran and Bidgol from the north, the Mesileh Desert and the Ab Shirin Desert from the west, the Posht-e-Rig Desert and the Kavir National Park from the east, and the Band-e-Rig Desert and the rolling sand dunes from the south. The name Maranjab is derived from the historical caravanserai and aqueduct in this area dating back to the Safavid era. Maranjab Desert is considered one of the best desert trekking options for tourists and desert trekking enthusiasts, and is in fact one of the main poles of desert trekking in Iran. Although Maranjab Desert is very pristine and beautiful, various groups of beginners as well as experienced desert trekkers visit this desert throughout the year. The Maranjab Caravansarai is a Safavid era caravanserai in the Maranjab Desert, located to the north of the city of Aran and Bidgol in Isfahan province, Iran. In 1603, it was constructed by the order of Abbas the Great along the Silk Road between Khorasan and Isfahan provinces.

History of Maranjab Castle

Constructed along the Silk Road in 1603, the caravanserai was used by travelers from China and Europe for many years. It was also used as a fortress, with 500 soldiers to protect travelers against bandits and to fight against possible military attacks from countries to the east, such as Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. In 2000, Iran's historical heritage association instituted a project to repair the building, which continued until 2004. Since then it has been used as a tourist attraction.

Structure

The 3,500-square-metre (38,000 sq ft) rectangular building has 29 rooms and is totally made of bricks. The fortified exterior walls have six watchtowers for archers and scout troops.

Tourist attraction

Being in the middle of a desert, the caravanserai attracts numerous desert lovers. The main tourist attractions of the area are off-road driving, astronomy and camel riding.

Sightseeing near Maranjab Castle

You can visit Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse which is located 71 Km away from Maranjab castle in Kashan.