Robat-e Zayn al-Din Caravanserai, build by the Safavid government of Kerman on the Silk Road, Yazd, Iran
Zein- O – Din Caravanserai is a two-days camel ride outside of Yazd. In spring 2014, we covered the distance in a bit more than an hour – by car. Those ancient resting and trading places were built every 30 km, we were told. All of them were fortified with a high robust windowless wall. This was necessary, since the riches the caravans were carrying attracted intruders.
A few of these caravanserais have been renovated and turned into hotels, like Zein – O – Din outside of Yazd. We found the renovation work almost a bit too neat. Inside, the nine simple rooms are arranged around the circular center. We came for the sunset, which unfortunately was a rather dull experience because of cloudy skies. Nevertheless the view from the roof was great, desert all around us. The tribute to modern times cannot be overheard, the humming of the trucks on the busy Silk Road passing by in the distance.
We had planned to have dinner in the caravanserai and were in for the next disappointment. Only guests who stayed over night could eat there. Hungrily we headed back to Esfahan only to be stopped by the police who requested to see our passports, which of course we had left behind in the hotel. Our cab driver was young and inexperienced and certainly no help. The police officer spoke excellent English and was quite sharp, asking if we had copies of our passport on our mobile phone (!).
Robat-e Zayn al-Din Caravanserai, build by the Safavid government of Kerman on the Silk Road, Yazd, Iran
All we could offer was him to call our hotel… After a while, he let us off repeating that we always have to have our passports with us. We promised over and over to do so, strapped tight in our seat belts trying not to commit another offence.
Looking back, the 25 Euro for the cab was well spent but we would recommend staying overnight. Unfortunately we only learned of this caravanserai after we had arrived in Yazd and by then it was fully booked, as it is a popular stop over for tour groups on the way to Yazd.
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