| Ganjali Khan Complex | |
|---|---|
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 Interactive map of the Ganjali Khan Complex area | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Isfahani style |
| Location | Kerman, Iran |
| Coordinates | 30°17′24″N57°4′41″E / 30.29000°N 57.07806°E /30.29000; 57.07806 |
| Construction started | 1596 |
| Completed | 1631 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Mohammad Soltani Yazdi |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Part of | The Persian Caravanserai |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iii |
| Reference | 1668-033 |
| Inscription | 2023 (45thSession) |
TheGanjali Khan Complex (Persian:مجموعه گنجعلیخان -Majmou-e-yeh Ganjali Khan) is aSafavid-era building complex, located in the old center of city ofKerman, Iran. The complex is composed of a school, a square, acaravanserai, abathhouse (hammam), anAb Anbar (water reservoir), amint, amosque and abazaar.[1][2]
The Ganjali Khan Complex was built byGanj Ali Khan who governedKerman,Sistan andKandahar provinces from 1596 to 1621 underSafavidShah Abbas I. A number of inscriptions laid inside the complex indicate the exact date when these places have been built. The architect of the complex was Mohammad Soltani from Yazd.[1][2]
The complex covers an area of 11,000 square meters and is centered on a large public square—ninety-nine meters by fifty-four meters—which is aligned with Vakil Bazaar running east–west to its south. The square is enveloped by bazaar arcades to the north, south and west and is flanked by the Ganjali Caravanserai to the east. The entrance to the Ganjalibathhouse is located along a section of Vakil Bazaar south of the square, known as Ganjali Khan Bazaar. The complex was built inIsfahani style of architecture.[1][3]
In ancient Iran, the squares of the cities were established near the governorships and were places for gatherings and ceremonies. The Ganjali square is ninety-nine meters by fifty-four meter, and Similar toNaqsh-e Jahan Square inIsfahan andMir Chakhmagh Square inYazd, is surrounded by urban elements such as bazaars,Caravanserais and schools.[1][4]
Built in 1611,[5] the Ganjalibathhouse is located on the southern side of Ganjali Square, off a section of Vakil Bazaar known as Ganjali Bazaar. The entrance of the building are painted with ornaments of theSafavid era. An interesting feature of its architectural finish is that the sculptured stones of the ceiling coincide with that of the flooring. It is composed of a disrobing room, cold room and hot room, all covered with domes carried onsquinches. The Ganjali Baths are unique works of architecture decorated with exquisite tile works, paintings, stuccos, and arches.[2][6]
The bathhouse were converted into ananthropological museum in 1971. In the closet section and main yard of the bath there are many lifelike statues. These statues were designed atTehran University's faculty of fine arts in 1973 and then transferred to this museum.[2]
Thebazaar is located in southern part of Ganjali Square. Inside, the bazaar is decorated with exquisiteplasterwork and wall paintings and although they are 400 years old, they are still well-preserved. The bazaar is 93 meters long and is connected to Ganjali square through 16iwans andvaults.[4][7]
The caravanserai is located on the east side of the Ganjali Square. Its portal bears a foundation inscription from 1598 composed bycalligrapherAli Reza Abbasi. The plan of the caravanserai is based on thefour-iwan typology, with double-story halls centered on talliwans enveloping four sides of an open courtyard. There is an octagonal fountain at the center of the courtyard which is chamfered at the corners. The caravanserai measures thirty-one and a half by twenty-three meters. It has a small domed mosque at one corner that measures five and a half by five meters.[8]
Themint’s construction started in 1598 and ended in 1625. The interior decorations consist ofochre plasterwork and brickwork. The building has a tall dome crowned by acupola to admit light and vent air. The mint was converted into anumismatics museum in 1970. The museum displays coins from different periods such asParthian,Sassanid,Safavid andAfsharid periods.[7]
Kerman province, Iran | ||
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