visitKhiva feels like stepping directly into the Silk Road. Its inner town, Itchan Kala, enclosed by towering mud-brick walls, was the first site in Uzbekistan inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Within a compact maze of lanes stand madrasas, minarets, mosques and palaces.
Kalta Minor & Islam Khoja
The turquoise-banded Kalta Minor minaret, left unfinished, is Khiva's emblem, while the slender Islam Khoja Minaret offers views across the desert. The Kuhna Ark and Tash Hauli Palace recall the age of the Khivan khans.
Must-Visit Landmarks
fortress
Itchan Kala
The walled inner town — a UNESCO-listed open-air museum of Khivan architecture.
madrasa
Kalta Minor Minaret
The stout, unfinished minaret sheathed entirely in glazed turquoise tile — Khiva's emblem.
madrasa
Islam Khoja Minaret
The tallest minaret in Khiva, offering sweeping views over Itchan Kala.