Aruch Caravanserai

Caravanserai was built of section tuff material and with stuffing wall technique. it is on the caravan route heading ta Anatolia over Yerevan and Eçmiadzin. Today there is na other construction around caravanserai. Most of the structure has been demolished almost ta the ground level. Only some portion of top of the vault is still visible. The structure is composed of two sections. Caravanserai was built in a rectangular plan. it is situated east­west direction. There is an entrance at the West side of the building but today it is blocked by stone walls. The jambs of the door is made of grooved ferr. Unfortunately there is na further information since rest of the door is missing. There is na trace that there is any windows on the north and southern sides. There is a semi-circular tower on the northeast side of the bearer walls. it is strongly possible that tower was built as a support element ta the wall. The bearer walls have a thickness of 1.50 and 1.15 cm. There is a tine stone craftsmanship on every wall surfaces.

The interior of the structure is made of two different parts. The first part on the west, right after the entrance was built larger crosswise than the eastern part. in this part of the structure there is no partitioning. The second part on the east side has been divided in to three aisles with two supporting walls. The center aisle is above the ground level of others. in every support row there are six square cutaway feet. The feet have been connected to each other by sharp arches loophole. The small windows on the eastern side of the structure provide light inside. There must be rooms in the section where you reach after crossing from the crown gate, but the traces of the rooms must have been disappeared after the last renovation. Another door inside this section right at the center opens to the eastern section.

The eastern section of the caravanserai is this section used far housing. Most of the crib vault has been collapsed. Today there is only one part of eastern section. The existing vault is supported by crosswise rib arches. The roof of the structure has a sharp pediment profile, sloping to both sides in a pleat roof style, and this smooth side is covered with stones. There is no trace form the figures inside the caravanserai. Some portion of the floor laying is buried under dirt.

Armenia was under the control of Seljuks during Melik Sah period. it is well known that Seljuks have built caravanserais along the silk road. The plan of the structure looks like Ejder Han in Iğdır. But in small size when it is compared to that structure. Ejder han was dated back to late 13th, early 14th century. it is possible that Aruç Caravanserai is one of the early examples of Ejder Han plan.

Homogeneous building style shows that all of the structure has been built at the same time. There is na trace that the structure has any later addups or reparation.