Kiponda Caravanserai

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Buildings called musafirkhanas were built by the Indian community in Zanzibar as lodging for visiting members of their community or as charitable housing. Although also called caravanserais, the buildings do not seem to have also had a commercial purpose. The Kiponda caravanserai was built in 1892 for widows of the Ithnasheri sect, and later as housing for Stone Town residents.