A
caravanserai (; ; ) was a roadside inn where travelers (
Caravaners) could rest and recover from the day's journey. In the Middle-East, it is often called by its Turko-Mongolian name , . In Bengal, it is known by the term
katra. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information, and people across the network of
trade routes covering Asia, North Africa, and
southeastern Europe, especially along the
Silk Road.