A caravanserai is a roadside inn designed to accommodate travelers and their animals, particularly in the Silk Road regions. These structures provided a safe resting place for merchants, pilgrims, and their caravans, offering food, water, and shelter. Caravanserais were typically built at regular intervals along trade routes to facilitate long-distance travel. These inns often featured large courtyards where caravans could park, and rooms for guests. Many caravanserais were constructed during the Middle Ages and served as important hubs for cultural exchange and commerce. Their architecture often reflects the local styles and materials of the regions in which they were built.