[1] The name Kırıkhan means "broken inn" in the Turkish language, perhaps a reference to one of the many lodgings that once lined the road.

The town stands at the intersection of the route between İskenderun and Aleppo, and the major north-south road between Antakya and Kahramanmaraş.

[citation needed] The district’s major religious and touristic site is the Beyazid-i Bestami Külliyesi (Complex) on Darb-ı Sak Castle at Alabeyli village, which contains the tomb or maqam of Bayazid Bastami.

[4] The ruined medieval Crusader castle Trapessac is situated near Kırıkhan.

Kırıkhan was heavily damaged by powerful earthquakes in February 2023 and subsequent aftershocks.