Djuma Mosque

Itchan kala

What is Ichan kala? In ancient Khiva , as well as other eastern cities, was divided into 3 parts: the fortress-Kunya -Ark, Suburb- Dishan-Kala and the city Ichan-Kala.

Today Ichan -kala is open-air museum. It is the old part of the city, surrounded with wall and turned into the State Historical Archaeological Museum. Here on the vast territory of 26hectares the exotic image of the eastern city has been preserved. But the most striking is that Ichan-Kala isn’t a frozen museum city. It is a home for 300 families, mostly engaged in crafts. The clay wall ( more than 2 km long, up to 10 metres and 5-6 metres at thickness)

that surrounds the city of Ichan-Kala, has four gates-on each corner of the earth. Western Gate-Ata-Darwaza. Cate Bakci leads to Urgench, the former capital of Khorezm, GatePalvan open the way to the Amu darya and then in an easterly direction and the Gate,,Tash’’ - in a southerly direction.

In Ichan-Kala there are about 60 historic buildings. Here one can see such unique monuments of history, as the citadel complex ,,Kunya Ark, the complex of Tash Hauli Palace, the minaret of Caltha Minor that is completely covered with glazed tiles, famous Juma Mosque with its 213 carved pillars, a symbol of Khiva Islamkhoja minaret, etc.

Djuma Mosque

There is a Djuma Mosque in the centre of Ichan-Kala. It was erected at the end of the 18^th century over the ruins of previous construction. This is an original building without portals and cupolas, without galleries and yards, it is 55 x 46 metres. One can enter the mosque from 4 sides. From the northern façade , facing the one of the main streets of the city the mosque faces a minaret, 52 metres high.The building is fenced with brick walls. The interior space is a single hall, the flat ceiling of which is supported by 215 wooden pillars. This type of single - hall mosque is found throughout the world and throughout the ages; witness the magnificent mosque in Afrasiyab , an Iranian mosque in Plain , the Morocco mosque of Khas-an in Rabat and others. But the constructive plan and décor of the Khiva Djuma mosque express originally. Small openings were made in the ceiling for light and ventilation of the hall. The finish of fagade is open brick. The interior is simply plastered. Spaces between the windows are painted in black and red colors; trees , bushes, and irises are realistically represented , symbolizing the wish of peace and tranquil in the monumental and decorative art of Central Asia. Irises were also used in the painting of the Fergana mosques, in the Namangan Khodja Amin Kabri and other memorials. The carved doors and mosque pillars are of special interest. They were built in different periods. The deep and raised carving with a Kufi inscription decorate the boles of the pillars of the 10^th – 11^th centuries. Flatter ornament and smaller painting with flourishing Kufi are seen on the pillars of the 11^th- 12^th centuries. The text on them reminds the worshippers that ,, this possession belongs to Allah’’. The combination of geometric and plant ornaments and Arabic script is peculiar to the pillars of the 15^th century. The majority of the pillars were erected in the 18^th century and some of them are of late origin. One can read these dates on the doors and pillars: 1316,1510.1788,1789, probably , showing the stages of building the mosque.The forest of pillars standing in the semi- darkness of the hall, adorned with the best patterns of Khorezm carving is expressive of the inimitable art of the local masters.

Pahlavan Mahmud complex

Pahlavan Mahmud complex is located not far from Juma Mosque.p

Pahlavan Mahmud is a local poet philosopher who was famous for his heroic strength and the ability to heal people.Originally the construction of the mausoleum was very modest but soon there was built khanaka and mosque where pilgrims said their prayer. Later the building was rebuilt into a magnificent construction with the largest dome in the city, covered with blue tiles.

In 1810 the mausoleum was rebuilt by Muhammad Rahim-khan. The new building consists of old tombs and double dome. There is a tombstone above the grave, adorned with mosaic of carved ceramics. The mausoleum is the tomb of Pahlavan Mahmud as well as the rulers of Khiva Muhammad Rahim –khan I , Abulgazikhan and Elbars II. There is a small courtyard with open mosque where come many beleivers in order to pray. There is also a deep well with clean drinking water.

Pahlavan Mahmud was buried in the west wing of the mausoleum and Muhammad Rahim-khan was buried on the central axis in the five-sided niche. In 1825 the east wing was attached to the mausoleum where was buried Allakulihan. All three burials are made in exquisite majolica lining.

Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum is one of the main symbols of Khiva as well as one of the finest works of Khiva architecture of middle of XIX century.

Muhammad Rahim Khan madrasah

Muhammad Rahim-khan madrasah is located east of Kunya- Ark . The full name of Khan is Said Muhammad Rahim Bahadur Khan. Local people called him Madraimkhan II. The construction of madrasah was begun by Seyid Muhammad Rahim Khan’s order and was completed in 1876. The immense building consists of 76 hujras, two courtyards, darshona , winter and summer mosques and library . It is a rectangular building with ayvan and small towers at the corners. Here the students studied not only theology but also science. There were often held literary evenings- mushoira where one could hear the works of outstanding poets of Khiva. The yard is surrounded by one-storey hujras inside which dominates a two-storey building. Its façade is decorated with a giant portal, where you can see the remains of blue majolica. There are high buildings- guldasta in the corners of madrasah. Rahim Khan II was a talented poet and philosopher who wrote his works under the pseudonym Feruz Shah. During his reign there was held the reform of traditional education. Thanks to it, the first schools appeared in Khiva, where besides Arabic alphabet and reading the Koran, students studied secular sciences. One of the most important historical events came about in 1879 during the reign of Muhammad Rahim Khan. The royal army of Russia invaded in Khanate, which was the cause of Russian protectorate in the country. The monumental building madrassah Muhammad Rahim Khan is one of the largest educational institutions in khiva, dominating the other buildings of the city and reminding the flowering of art and science of XIX - century.

Caravanseray Alla-Kulli –khan

Caravanseray Alla-Kulli-khan was built in 1835; it was one of the important places for merchants. There were rooms where kept raw silk and silk fabrics. It was two-storey building with 105 rooms - ,, hudjras’’. Later the trading dome ,, Tim’’ was attached to the building façade. The façade of karavanserai and part of the second floor were destroyed in order to build the trade dome ,,Tim’’. Domed arcade - ,,Tim’’ has an original view. Two rows of small domes are combined with a large domed hall. There were trade counters on the sides of the building and large chain of buyers in the middle. There were not only local goods but also the English cotton fabrics , silk scarves, cotton blankets, Uzbek boots , Chinese dishes, jewelry, head dresses and many other every day items. The ancient city Khiva was an important centre for trades. Karavanserai Allah Kuli khan was not only the wholesale market for merchants and local people but at the same time the hotel.

Kalta –Minar Minaret

Kalta-Minar Minaret means ,,Low tower’’ is located in the inner of Khiva. The building was erected in the19th century by the ruler Mukhammmad Amin-khan. The minaret is unique that it was not completed. According to his plan, the height of the building was 70-80 sm , but construction was finished at 29 sm. Despite the minaret was not completed, it is impossible to imagine Khiva without this mighty building. The building is famous not only its big sizes, but above all it is the only minaret which is covered with blue and white glazed tiles and majolica. There are many legends and stories about Kalta- Minar-Minaret. One of the legends says when Bukhara khan heard about Muhammad Amin Khan’ construction, he asked his architect to build the same building in Bukhara. But as soon as Muhammad Amin Khan learnt the news, the architect was thrown from the minaret. This was the reason the work was stopped because nobody else could finish the construction.

Nowadays Kalta-Minar-Minaret is a unique architectural monument and a symbol of Khiva. Despite the building was not completed, Kalta-Minar-Minaret is one of the honorable sights not only Khiva city but the whole Central Asia

Anushkhan Bathhouse

Anushkhan Bathhouse is located near Ak- Mosque, they laid its foundation in 1664. It is still surprising how sophisticated were its heating water supply systems and sewerage. The bathhouse was used as vakf-property the profit from which was used for charity of Ak- Mosque.The medieval Oriental bathhouse had an entrance hall, change rooms and washing rooms. Anushkhan Bathhouse had this layout as well. It had a heating system under the floor and semi-basement compartments to keep warmth for a long time. The bathhouse was built thanks to Abdulkazi-Khan was a happy father of nine boys, and yet, he very much wanted to have a daughter. When his tenth child was born, he was told a lie by saying it was a girl and he named the child Anusha after his favourite concubine. Several years later Abdulgazi -khan who took part in many military campains – was captured by Bukhara Emir. Abdulgazi-Khan’s sons did not try to save their father, except Anusha. Bukhara Emir was surprised to see his captive’s daughter: he expected his sons to arrive. Anusha showed wit and proposed an agreement to the emir: if she could surprise him, he would release her father. The Emir accepted it, intrigued-and Anusha dropped her dress, showing a young man’s body. Surprised, the emir kept his word and let Abdulkazi-khan go. When Abdulgazi-khan returned home, he said, ,,It has turned out that I don’t have nine sons. I have only one son named Anush. In gratitude for his saved life and to honour his tenth son the Khan ordered to build the healing Anush-Khan Bathhouse.

Dishan -Kala

Dishan -Kala is the name of historical outside city of Khiva. As opposed to Ichan-Kala, Dishan -Kala is kept only ruins of gates of exterior defensive walls. The exterior walls of the city were built by order of Alla-Kuli-Khan in 1842 for the defense of khiva from the Turkmen tribes. It is known that Allakuli Khan built Dishan-Kala walls in three years; thereby he forced to work all his subordinates. More than 200 000 people were involved in the construction of the walls. The size of the walls is: length-5650 m, height-6,8 m, thick at the base- 4-6 pm. The city gates were part of a defense system. Thanks to preserved ruins of the gate, we can see that there used to be towers on either side of the arched passageways. There also were domed rooms, cistoms and prison. The gates to public buildings and private homes have always been of great importance in Central Asia: the beautiful their décor, the greater honour has the city.It is not surprising that the gateswere always decorated with colourfull tiles and verses from the Koran or the texts andfragments of poems. According to researchers, the clay for the construction was taken about two km north of Khiva. Today, there is a large lake, its water is holly. The ruins of Dishan-Kala fortress are very popular with tourists, as well as it is of great interest to funs of oriental architecture. Blending with the complex of fortifications of Khiva, Dishan-Kala gives them the full completeness.

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