Uzbekistan

KHIVA

Khiva is a unique museum-town under the open sky. Its historical heart, unlike those of other Central Asia cities is preserved in its entirety. Khiva certainly existed by the 8th century, as a minor fort and trading post on a Silk Road branch t the Caspian Sea and the Volga. The main monuments being preserved nowadays are concentrated inside Ichan-Kala- "the old city", surrounded by the fortress walls. Even among its densely packed mosques, tombs, palaces, alleys and at least 16 madrassahs you need imagination to get a sense of its mystique. It seems that the time stopped here.

Ichan Kala Gates and Walls
The main entrance of Ichan Kala is the twin - turreted brick West Gate (Ota Darvoza literally "Father Gate"), a 1970 s reconstruction - the original was wrecked in 1920. The picturesque 2,5 km long mud walls date from the 18th cent. Rebuilt after being wrecked by the Persians. Ota Darvoza, which greets approaching tourists has been fully restored in recent years. The walls has also Bukhoro Darvoza (Bukhara Gate), Polvon Darvoza (strongman's Gate) Tosh Darvoza (Stone Gate), as well as about 40 bastions.

Islom - Khodja Minaret and Madrassah.
Khiva's newest Islamic monuments both built in 1910. The minaret with the bands of turquoise and red tiling, looks rather like an uncommonly lovely light - house. At 45 meters tall, it's Khiva's highest minarets. You can climb its 188 steps for fine views across the Karakum desert. The madrassah holds Khiva's best museum of Khoresm handicrafts through the ages - fine wood carving, metalwork, jewelry, books, Uzbek and Turkmen carpets, pottery, stone carved with Arabic script and large pots called "hum" for storing food underground". Islam Khodja himself was an early 20th century grand vizier and by Khivian standards, a liberal: he founded a European style school, brought long distance telegraph to the city and built a hospital. For his popularity he was assassinated by Khan and clergy.

Kalta Minor and Muhammad Amin Khan madrassah.
The first building on the right inside the west Gate is Muhammad Amin Khan madrassah built in 1850 and serving as hotel Khiva. It is nice enough building with two "storeys of cells around a broad courtyard. Out side stands the fast turquoise tiled Kalta - Minor minaret, built at the same time and looking like it was originally meant to be far taller, which would have mad it much higher than in Bukhara's Kalan minaret. Stories say it was stopped because the architect died.

Kunya Ark
Kunya Ark means "old citadel" and has the prime site in the north-western sector of the city. Power first emanated from here in the 12th century when Akshikh-bobo, the White Sheikh, built the clay forthress which dominates the citadel, also forming part of the city wall. After the sheikh died it became his mausoleum. The mosque (1838) is down the first passage on the right and is smothered in dazzlingly intricate blue and white majolica patterns thick with typically Khiva plant and flower motifs. The harem is opposite the gateway. Behind it the 12th century Akshish-bobo bastion, Khiva's oldest building, is closed for visitors though its roof may be accessible from the city wall. The Mohammed Rakhim Khan madrasa, known locally as the Feruz madrasa is now a museum devoted to the life of this khan. The Matinyas Divanbegi madrasa across the street, facing Kalta Minar from the east, is open as a restaurant.

Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum
Pakhlavan Makhmud was a widely popular 14 century poet - doctor - wrestler, buried in 1326. It was rebuilt in the 19 century and then requisitioned in 1913 by the khan as the family mausoleum. This is town's most beautiful stops. It is also the center of royal burial ground. Among the tombs whose domes and vaulted brick roofs spill down to the east from the main turquoise cupola are those of Abdulkhazi Khan (1644 - 1663), Shirgasi Khan (1715 - 1730), Muhammad Rakhimi (1806 - 1825) and Allakuli Khan (1825 - 1842) The beautiful Persian -style chamber under turquoise dome at the north end of the courtyard holds the tomb of Khan Muhammad Rakhim II who ruled from 1865 to 1910. Pahlavon Makhmud'ws tomb to the left of the first chamber has some of Khiva's loveliest tiling on the sarcophagus and the walls.

Tash Khauli (1830-1838)
Allakuli Khan (1825-42) was an unstoppable commissioner of new buildings and a hard taskmaster. Soon after coming to power he set his heart on a brand new palace more lavish than the Ark, and pronto. The second, Kalendar Khivaki, employed thousands of slaves, peasants and craftsmen and took eight years over it (1830-1838). Tash Khauli (stoned place) is sometimes wrongly called a summer palace the palace has three courts. Smallest and closed to visitors is Ishrat-Khauli in the southeast corner, for official ceremonies and banquets. Arz-Khauli in the southwest corner was the court of justice and had two gateways. The third and largest court was the harem.

Koikrylgankala
Koikrylgankala - Ruins of a temple-and-mausoleum of the 4th-3rd centuries BC. The central building in Koikrylgankala was a two-store round tower 45 m in diameter and about 10 m high. The ground floor was divided into two isolated complexes of vaulted rooms, access to which was only from the top floor. The staircases leading into one of the complexes were bricked up right after the construction was finished there are grounds to suppose that a king was buried in the dark northern room. The eastern part of the top floor of the building was used for performing rites and storing objects used in the service for the repose of the soul. Supposedly, the tower-shaped mausoleum.

Toprakkala
The dynastic center of Khorezmian kings of the late 2nd-3rd centuries AD., built simultaneously and according to a single master plan. It consisted of fortified city with citadel, where a temple of fire-worship and a palace on a high platform were situated, a suburban palace-and-temple complex and a large vacant plot surrounded with a high rampart probably used for assembling troops and holding mass festivities. The area under palaces and temples is larger than the area under residential neighborhoods. The architecture of Toprakkala is dominated by ancient Oriental traditions. Oriental technique of colored drawings, others, conveying chiaroscuro and complex foreshortening, were obviously created under Hellenistic influence.