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Khiva
Khiva
is one of the oldest cities in Central
Asia, and has the second largest
population in the Khorezm Region,
after Urgench. Khiva is fairytale
town with an ancient history. According
to the archeological evidence, Khiva
originated at the end of the 1st
century BC. The official date of
the foundation of the city is the
17th century when the city was mentioned
in historical sources as a large
town of Turkistan.
Khiva is an unique monument to the
past, a treasury of remarkable monuments.
It has an exceptional position among
the other cities of Uzbekistan because
it has its own sharply distinctive
characteristics.
Khiva is unique because it has very
well preserved neighborhoods, beautiful
buildings and religious, military
and palace structures, in addition
to houses of a specific national
type.
Ichan-Kala and Dishan-Kala, the
two parts of the city, contain most
of its wonderful monuments.
Ichan-Kala is the oldest part of
the city surrounded by brick walls.
It has many monuments displaying
ancient Uzbek architecture, such
as madrassahs, mosques, mausoleums
and covered markets.
Dishan-Kala consists of houses of
traders, craftsmen and also has
several mosques and a madrassah.
It was divided into residential
quarters inhabited by people of
one and the same profession which
was reflected in the names of such
quarters.
The architecture of Khiva captures
the imagination by its monumental
forms and graceful ornaments. Its
buildings are remarkable examples
of high artistic mastership and
the bold engineering solutions of
local masters and architects of
Khoresm. 
Among
the highlights of Khiva are:
• Kunya Ark - the
Khiva rulers' own fortress and residence,
first built in the 12th century,
then expanded by the khans in the
17th century. The khans; harem,
mint, stables, arsenal, barracks,
mosque and jail were all here. Only
parts have been restored.
• Juma mosque. The
large Juma mosque is interesting
for the 218 wooden columns supporting
its roof - a concept thought to
be derived from ancient Arabian
mosques. The few finely decorated
columns are from the original 10th
century mosque, though the present
building dates from the 18th century.
]
• Tash-Hauli (Stone House),
contains Khiva's most sumptuous
interior decoration, including ceramic
tiles, carved stone and wood, and
ghanch. It is said to have over
150 rooms off nine courtyards with
high ceilings designed to catch
any breeze.
• Islam Khodja madrassah &
minaret. The minaret of Islam Khodja
is considered to be the newest Islamic
monument, built in 1910. The minaret
with bands of turquoise and red
tiling looks rather like an uncommonly
lovely lighthouse. At 45m tall,
it's Khiva's highest. One can climb
its 118 steps for fine views across
the Karakum desert.
• Pakhlavan Makhmud complex
(XIV – XIX c) –
the most remarkable architecture
memorial complex in Khiva with unique
tiles. 
• Toza Bog Palace 1893-1913
– the summer residence of
Mohammed Rakhim Khan II stands halfway
between the European and Central
Asian worlds, craftsmen from St.
Petersburg brought square windows
and large doorways to the traditional
pillared iwans of the servants’
courtyard and girikh designs of
the green ganch reception rooms.
• Nurulla Bai Palace
1906-1912 the fortified courtyard
of Isfandiyar Khan’s residence
today languish in a largely sorry
state of disrepair, but the modern-style
reception hall is still in good
condition.
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