The
Old City - Khiva - Uzbekistan
- 2013
Ichan-Kola is the name of the old city within the walls.
Ichan-Kola means "within the walls".
Striking examples of Islamic architecture have been built over a span of 600 years.
Kuhna Ark, the Khan's palace.
The dais for the Royal Yurt.
Mohammed Rakim Medressa, named after the last Khan who surrended to Russia in 1873
(although he had, at least, kept Khiva independent for a few years longer thn Bukhara).
Kalya, Khiva's token camel, waits for tourists to pose with her.
Juma Mosque has 213 carved wooden colums supporting the roof.
A couple of columns remain from the 10th century.
Camel-wool was placed between the column and its foundation to deter insects from attacking the wood.
This girl spoke excellent English.
She was well on the way to being an excellent tour guide.
When she referred to her companions as "her pupils", we thought that she had got the word wrong.
However she explained that she was actually teaching them English.
The Harem
On the left are the separate quarters for each of the Khan's 4 wives.
Each wife had 10 concubines, whose quarters are on the right.
The Khan's bed.
The 47 metre high Juma minaret.
A couple of weeks growth being trimmed.
Finished in 1910, Islom-Hoja Medressa is Khiva's newest Islamic monument.
There were 4 students and a teacher in each room.
The revered Maulsoleum of Pahlavon Mahmud, one of Khiva's most beautiful spots.
He was a poet, philospher and a legendary wrestler, who became Khiva's patron saint.
He died in 1326.
Outside the old city
Some scenes near our hotel, just outside the walls of the old city.
So farewell to Uzbekistan and the beautiful tiled buildings along the old Silk Road.
The next day we crossed the border into Turkmenistan.
Ichan-Kola is the name of the old city within the walls.
Ichan-Kola means "within the walls".
Striking examples of Islamic architecture have been built over a span of 600 years.
Kuhna Ark, the Khan's palace.
The dais for the Royal Yurt.
Mohammed Rakim Medressa, named after the last Khan who surrended to Russia in 1873
(although he had, at least, kept Khiva independent for a few years longer thn Bukhara).
Kalya, Khiva's token camel, waits for tourists to pose with her.
Juma Mosque has 213 carved wooden colums supporting the roof.
A couple of columns remain from the 10th century.
Camel-wool was placed between the column and its foundation to deter insects from attacking the wood.
This girl spoke excellent English.
She was well on the way to being an excellent tour guide.
When she referred to her companions as "her pupils", we thought that she had got the word wrong.
However she explained that she was actually teaching them English.
The Harem
On the left are the separate quarters for each of the Khan's 4 wives.
Each wife had 10 concubines, whose quarters are on the right.
The Khan's bed.
The 47 metre high Juma minaret.
A couple of weeks growth being trimmed.
Finished in 1910, Islom-Hoja Medressa is Khiva's newest Islamic monument.
There were 4 students and a teacher in each room.
The revered Maulsoleum of Pahlavon Mahmud, one of Khiva's most beautiful spots.
He was a poet, philospher and a legendary wrestler, who became Khiva's patron saint.
He died in 1326.
Outside the old city
Some scenes near our hotel, just outside the walls of the old city.
So farewell to Uzbekistan and the beautiful tiled buildings along the old Silk Road.
The next day we crossed the border into Turkmenistan.
