KHIVA

KHIVA

Khiva

Khiva is a city of approximately 90,000 people located in Xorazm Region, Uzbekistan. According to archaeological data, the city was established around 1500 years ago. It is the former capital of Khwarezmia and the Khanate of Khiva.

According to legend, the city of Khiva was founded by Som, the son of the prophet Noah. Because the city was located on a caravan route, merchants often shared there. The passengers, who descended into the city and enjoyed the abyss coming out of its deep well, exclaimed in astonishment. The locals, who interpreted it as their own, began to call the city “Hey-Wah“, “Khaiva“, “Khivaq“.

One of the chroniclers of that period, Al-Istakhri (930), included Khiva in the list of the 30 largest cities of his time.

By the 19th century, the city had expanded into two parts, Ichan Qala Shahristan (inner city) and Deshon Qala Rabot (outer city). There were dozens of villages around the city.

Ichan Qala Shahristan consists of a unique architectural structure, surrounded by a high sand wall, the circumference of which is about 2200 meters, the height is 7-8 meters, and the thickness of the foundation is 5-6 meters. Ichan Qala is built in a rectangular shape, 650 meters long and 400 meters wide, covering an area of 26 hectares, with four gates facing the four corners of the world. The walls of the Ichan Castle have been demolished and rebuilt several times over time.

Khiva is one of the most important crossroads of the Great Silk Road from China to Rome.

On December 12, 1990, the city of Khiva hosted UNESCO’s first mission in Central Asia, “Mayor of the World“

Khiva State Museum-Games “Ichan-Kala” will be one of the best exercise museums in Uzbekistan. Within the territory of the sanctuary there are 54 ancient historical architectural buildings, 360 apartments and other places with a population of 2600 people.