Kurucesme Han

This large Han/Khan is located on the road from Konya to Yunuslar— 21 mi. [34 km.] west of Konya.  Its name means "the han of the Dry Well." The Khan dates to the thirteenth century A.D.—to the Seljuk period and provided a protected overnight resting place for travelers.  In Seljuk times there were actually 4 hans along this road: one is partially submerged by the waters of a dam, a second no longer exists, and the third is the Kandemir Han [10 km.] west of this han.

Many parts of an earlier Byzantine structure (church?) were used in the construction of the han (=spolia).

The road that the han is on followed the path of the 1,000 year older Via Sebastia that the apostle Paul travelled on four times (twice on his First Journey [heading east and then returning west], and on his Second and Third Journeys—both times heading west).

This han was in ruins in 2010 when this picture was taken, but it was restored in 2011 (possibly open for visits?). For additional information on this Han/Khan Click Here.

Mark Wilson, Biblical Turkey — A Guide to the Jewish and Christian Sites of Asia Minor.  Istanbul: Yayinlari, 2010, p. 170.