What is "dayahatyn"

Dayahatyn (also spelled Dayakhatyn or Daya-khatyn or Bai Khatyn in folk) is a medieval caravanserai, sitting on the left bank of Amu Darya. It is around 170 km to the northwest of the modern city of Turkmenabat, Lebap Wilayah, near the border between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It is a fortified square enclosure with sides of 53 metres long. It was originally a fortress built by Tahir ibn Husayn in the 9th century. In the 11th century, it was transformed into a caravanserai with fascinating brick-structures, providing shelter for not only caravans but also elites during their long journeys. The integrity of Dayahatyn acts as a typical example showing the mastering skill of Seljuk architects on brickworks during the 11th and 12th centuries. Because of its artistic excellence, Dayahatyn is regarded as one of the most valuable and the finest example of caravanserai structure extant in the Central Asia.