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The largest caravan serai Gayakhatyn ( Bai-Khatyn ) is a n 11th-12th-century monument of architecture. It stood on the medieval road from Amul' ( Turkmenabad) to Khoresm. Today only the vast ruins of the caravanserai mud-brick rabat remind of that time. Once, the rabat was reinforced with circular towers. Arches, vaults and domes of the caravan serai were laid from burnt bricks . The w alls of the facade are lined with brick s in the original ornamental style. S ome parts of the rabat still keep the relief (brick) text fragments with the names of caliphs Abubkr, Omar and Ali .
By the way, the local residents name this caravan serai "Bai-Khatyn" . One of the legend s mentions him « … a certain rich person suspected the wife of infidelity. Offended by the imaginary unfaithfulness he left home in the clothes of a poor dervish.
His wife waited and waited her husband's return. To make his desert travels easier she built a big and beautiful caravan serai . The brick s for it s construction were made in Merv and were passed f rom hands to hands to the place of construction. It happened that her husband was a mong the workers . He eventually came back home after his long wanderings ».
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