Khiva, Ancient city in Xorazm Region, Uzbekistan
Khiva is a city in Xorazm Region, Uzbekistan, with clay-brick city walls that include several gates and watchtowers. The old town spreads across a compact area with mosques, madrasas, and mausoleums distributed among residential houses made from sun-dried bricks.
Settlements in this area emerged as early as the 6th century BCE under the name Kheyvak. During the medieval period, the place became the capital of the Khanate of Khiva and developed into a trading point on the Silk Road with links to Persia and Russia.
The inner core is known as Itchan Kala and functions today as a lived-in quarter where craftsmen fire ceramics and weave carpets. Visitors can walk through narrow lanes and see families living in clay houses passed down through generations.
The nearest international flight connection is in Urgench, about 31 kilometers away, with regular minibuses linking both places. Early morning or late afternoon offers more comfortable temperatures for exploring the clay buildings and open squares.
The Juma Mosque from the 10th century contains 213 wooden columns drawn from different eras that display varying carving styles. Some columns carry inscriptions and ornaments from Persian and Arabic tradition collected over several centuries.
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