Paşa Han

Paşa Han was built in 1752 during the reign of Sultan Mahmud I by Mehmet Pasha, who served as governor of Trabzon and Sivas. Its cut-stone gate and the blind walls enclosing it feature the enclosed courtyard plan commonly seen in commercial caravanserais of the period. The original service gate on the south side has been preserved, but the main gate at the entrance has been removed over time.

The caravanserai is located on Sulusokak in the center of Tokat. You can reach Sulusokak by city buses and then walk a short distance to the caravanserai. If you are going by your own car, be aware of Sulusokak's narrow structure; finding parking nearby might take some time.

Sulusokak is calmer and shadier before noon. For those who want to photograph the cut-stone gate of the caravanserai, the morning light shows the stone texture on the facade more clearly. In summer months, to avoid the midday heat, morning or late afternoon hours can be preferred.

Paşa Han is not alone in Sulusokak. On the same street, there are other Ottoman-era caravanserais such as Taşhan, Deveciler Hanı, and Yazmacılar Hanı. If you are planning a route, including Paşa Han with these other caravanserais will give you a more complete view of Tokat's 17th-18th century commercial life.

Paşa Han is a small-scale structure; 15-20 minutes is sufficient to see the gate and the courtyard. When visited together with other caravanserais in Sulusokak, it forms a historical walking route that can extend to half a day.

The main gate of the caravanserai is no longer present today, but the service gate on the south side remains in its original state. The current status of entry and its usage may change over time; it would be beneficial to get up-to-date information from the Tokat Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism before your visit.

The facade of the cut-stone gate, when photographed from across the street, shows the full scale of the building. The simple stone texture of the courtyard walls also yields good results in close-up shots.