Khiva: Joyau de l'Architecture Islamique

Kalta-Minor is an unfinished minaret that has become the hallmark of Khiva and without which it is impossible to imagine the Ichan-Kala fortress.

The surface of the Kalta-Minor is covered thoroughly with coloured glazed tiles, which shine from the sun's rays during the day, and in the evening, are transformed by night illumination.

According to the idea of Muhammad Amin Khan, it was supposed to become the most prominent and tallest minarets in Central Asia. However, its construction was interrupted due to the death of Khan.

Today, people come from all over the world to look at this beautiful turquoise Kalata-Minor minaret to take a picture with it in the background.

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Islam-Khoja complex, consisting of the smallest madrasah and the highest minaret, is the pearl of Khiva.

The brick decor of the Islam Khoja minaret emphasizes its monumentality. Islam Khoja minaret is girded with sparkling stripes of facings made of glazed patterns, mainly blue, white and turquoise, the ornaments of which are unique.

The asymmetric Islam Khoja madrasah occupies an important place in the Ichan-Kala fortress, serving as a background for the famous Islam Khoja minaret.

Islam-Khoja complex is fascinating and educational, and it is a great way to touch the history of Khiva. It is also worth climbing to the top of the minaret for a better view; this is one of the best places in Khiva to enjoy the city from a bird's eye view.

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Juma Mosque is one of the most famous medieval buildings in the Ichan-Kala fortress, with 213 columns of different ornaments and centuries.

Juma Mosque is unique for its columns; hand carving adorns the trunks and capitals of the columns of the Juma Mosque. They, different in size, shape and decoration, are of high artistic value; the paintings of the columns do not repeat, in contact with the patterns of time.

Juma Mosque is a place with incredible energy; inside, it's great to sit on a bench or brick partitions; The inner twilight and the sun's rays falling through the roof's opening create a very cosy atmosphere inside. Here the newlyweds hold photo shoots. So possible to wait for the absence of people and take interesting photos.

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Pahlavan Mahmud mausoleum is undoubtedly one of Khiva's leading architectural monuments and pilgrimage. The great poet and educator Sufi and philosopher Pahlavan Mahmud are buried in the mausoleum.

The high egg-shaped dome makes the Pahlavan Mahmud mausoleum unique. Its interior is decorated with white and blue tiles of the floral ornament so harmoniously that it makes the patterns light and transparent, and the mausoleum is unrepeatable. On the walls are also written poems in Persian, belonging to Pahlavan Mahmud.

Pahlavan Mahmud mausoleum is a great place to come and sit on a chair near the crypt itself and think about the eternal and recharge your energy by meditating.

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Kunya-Ark is a kind of "fortress within a fortress", separated from Ichan-Kala by a high clay wall; currently, only a few buildings of the XIX century remain on the territory.

Kunya-Ark housed winter and summer mosques, kurinishona (a reception hall), women's quarters (Harem), a mint, stables, workshops, living rooms, etc. In addition, military parades and training battles took place on the fortress square; there was also a prison (zindan) with a place to execute sentences.

The uniqueness of the Kurinishkhona in the Kunya-Ark is an aivan supported by two elegantly executed wooden columns on which the poems of the poet and historian Ogahi are impressed and the facade with blue and white majolica.

The observation deck of the Ak-Sheikh-Bobo bastion in the Kunya-Ark citadel is an excellent place where you can enjoy a beautiful view of Ichan-Kala and its surroundings.

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Alokulikhan built the Tash-Khauli Palace (Stone Yard) in 1832-1838. Today the Tash-Khauli Palace is divided into two parts.

• The first part is Harem, in which the museum of "Crafts" opened in 1987.
• The second part is Arzkhona, where the "Khorezm Craftsmanship" museum opened in 2001.

Both museums continue to work to this day.

Harem in the Tash-Khauli Palace is unique in its exquisite decoration - beautifully tiled walls of all shades from azure to the darkest indigo and magnificent ceilings with a fascinating history.

It is necessary to visit the Tash-Khauli Palace to see the decoration in all its glory.

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Defensive walls of Itchan-Kala, are about 10 meters high, 8 meters thick, and 2250 meters long, with semicircular towers and galleries with narrow loopholes.

The defensive walls of Ichan-Kala still surround and protect palaces, mosques, minarets, madrasas, mausoleums and caravanserais, which are of historical value and are on the UNESCO heritage list.

Ichak-Kala fortress has the following four gates: Northern (Bagcha-darvaza), Southern (Tash-darvaza), Eastern (Palvan-darvaza) and Western (Ata-darvaza).

Walking along the walls of Ichan-Kala is best during sunset; this is an excellent opportunity to admire the incredible natural landscapes and take unique photos.

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Said Allauddin Mausoleum, a famous Naqshbandi Sufi master, is probably the oldest surviving building in Khiva, consisting of two parts, a tomb and an adjoining mosque. Said Allauddin is known as a saint, thanks to which the locals visit his small mausoleum every day.

Said Allauddin Mausoleum is small and not rich in oriental decorations but indispensable for people who love history and spiritual places. Pilgrims have visited the Said Allauddin Mausoleum for hundreds of years, and today this mausoleum is visited by hundreds of pilgrims.

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