Sülüklü Han (Leech Inn)

Sülüklü Han (the "Leech Inn") is an Ottoman caravanserai of 1683 in the historic walled old city (Suriçi) of Diyarbakır, standing just off the axis of the Coppersmiths' Bazaar and the Great Mosque.

History and Origin of the Name

Also known as Kazancılar Hanı (Coppersmiths' Inn), it was commissioned by Hanilioğlu Mahmut Çelebi and his sister Atike Hatun. The han owes its unusual name to the leeches that physicians once drew from the well in its courtyard and used for medicinal, blood-letting cures, a detail that shows the building served for centuries not only as a trading post but also as a place of folk medicine. With more than three and a half centuries of history, it survives today as one of the most characterful of the old city's smaller hans.

Architecture and Transformation

Architecturally the inn is built of the local black basalt that gives Diyarbakır its distinctive dark palette. In its original form it rose three storeys, with eighteen rooms on each floor: the ground level served as a stable for caravan animals while the upper floors offered lodging for merchants. Its upper storeys were lost over time and the structure now stands largely as a single storey. A broad inner courtyard, the historic well at its centre and the arched stone chambers ringing the yard preserve the classic Anatolian caravanserai plan. During the Turkish War of Independence it also served as a headquarters for cavalry units, adding a chapter of military history to its story. Restored in 2010 under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, its former lodging and stable units now house a café-restaurant while the outward-facing shops operate as traditional blacksmith and craft workshops; a plaque at the entrance recounts its history in five languages — Syriac, Armenian, Zazaki, Kurmanji and Turkish — a small mirror of the city's layered identity.

Visiting and Access

For visitors, Sülüklü Han is a quieter, more intimate counterpart to the busier Hasan Pasha Han, and it is precisely this calm authenticity that agencies value; group tours usually slot it between the Great Mosque and the bazaar walk as a tea, coffee and photography stop. The average visit lasts 20 to 30 minutes, stretching to half an hour for those who linger over a cup of mırra in the courtyard. On guided programmes the han is typically seen while walking from the Great Mosque toward the Four-Legged Minaret and the churches quarter. Within a short walk lie Hasan Pasha Han, the Great Mosque, the Sipahi Bazaar, the Four-Legged Minaret and the Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı House Museum. The best photographs are the basalt arches of the courtyard, the wellhead and the striped stone façade. Access within Suriçi is on foot only; the nearest car and tour-bus parking is Dağ Kapı Square, about an 8-10 minute walk away. Because of narrow cobbled lanes and courtyard thresholds, wheelchair access is partly limited and assistance is advised. The best time to visit is spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October); at the height of summer, when midday heat exceeds 40°C, the shaded courtyard offers welcome relief. Peak season falls in spring, at weekends and during national holidays.