Khiva

City in Xorazm Region, western Uzbekistan

For other uses, see Khiva (disambiguation).

Place in Khorazm Region, Uzbekistan

Khiva

Xiva / Хива

Clockwise from top:
Itchan Kala, Alla Kouli Khan Madrasa, Pakhlavan Makhmoud Mausoleum, Islam Hoja Minaret, Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasa and Kalta Minor

Khiva

Location in Uzbekistan

Show map of West and Central Asia

Khiva

Khiva (Uzbekistan)

Show map of Uzbekistan

Coordinates: 41°22′53″N 60°21′40″E﻿ / ﻿41.38139°N 60.36111°E﻿ / 41.38139; 60.36111
Country|  Uzbekistan
Region| Khorazm Region
Founded| 6th century BC
Government

• Hakim| Temur Davletov
Population

(2021)[1]

• Total

| 115,000
Postal code|

220900

Area code| +998
Website| https://xivashahar.uz/

Khiva (Uzbek: Xiva, Хива, خیوه; other names) is a district-level city of approximately 93,000 people in Khorazm Region, Uzbekistan.[2] According to archaeological data, the city was established around 2,500 years ago. In 1997, Khiva celebrated its 2500th anniversary.[3] It is the former capital of Khwarezmia, the Khanate of Khiva, and the Khorezm People's Soviet Republic. Itchan Kala in Khiva was the first site in Uzbekistan to be inscribed on the World Heritage List (1991). The astronomer, historian and polymath, Al-Biruni[4] (973–1048 CE) was born in either Khiva or the nearby city of Kath.

## Etymology

[edit]

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The origin of the name Khiva is unknown, but many contradictory stories have been told to explain it.

A traditional story attributes the name to one of the sons of the prophet Noah: "It is said that Shem, after the flood, he found himself wandering in the desert alone. Having fallen asleep, he dreamt of 300 burning torches. On waking up, he was pleased with this omen, he founded the city with outlines in the form of a ship mapped out according to the placement of the torches, about which he had dreamt. Then Shem dug the Kheyvak well, the water from which had a surprising taste. It is possible to see this well in Ichan-Kala (an internal town of Khiva City) even today."[5]

Another proposal is that the name comes from the word Khwarezm, altered by borrowing into Turkic as Khivarezem, then shortened to Khiva.

The town is also known as Persian: خیوه, Xīveh; alternative or historical names include Orgunje, Kheeva, Khorasam, Khoresm, Khwarezm, Khwarizm, Khwarazm, Chorezm, Arabic: خوارزم and Persian: خوارزم.

## History

[edit]

Further information: Khanate of Khiva and Khwarezm

In the early part of its history, the Aryan inhabitants spoke an Eastern Iranian language called Khwarezmian. Turks replaced the Iranian ruling class in the 10th century AD, and the region gradually turned into an area with a majority of Turkic speakers.

Russia annexed some parts of the Khanate of Khiva in the 19th century, vassalising it into the Russian protectorate. The last khan from the ruling dynasty was liquidated a century later, in 1919. Thus Khiva became the capital city of the new Khorezm People's Soviet Republic. The Khorezm oasis was converted into a part of modern Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in 1924.[6]

The earliest records of the city of Khiva appear in Muslim travel accounts from the 10th century although archaeological evidence indicates habitation in the 6th century; by the early 17th century, Khiva had become the capital of the Khanate of Khiva.[7] The khanate was ruled by a branch of the Astrakhans, a Genghisid dynasty.

2014 Image of Palvan Gate Of Khiva, built in the early 19th century and known to have hosted a large slave market and a center of punishments and executions

In the 17th century, Khiva began to develop as a slave market. For several centuries, the cities of Bukhara and Khiva were known as major centers of the slave trade, and the Bukhara slave trade, alongside the neighboring slave trade in Khiva, has been referred to as the "slave capitals of the world".[8] During the first half of the 19th century, around 30,000 Persians and an unknown number of Russians, were enslaved there before being sold. A large part of them were involved in the construction of buildings in the walled Itchan Kala.[7]

### Campaigns

[edit]

Main articles: Khivan campaign of 1839 and Khivan campaign of 1873

In the course of the Russian conquest of Central Asia, in 1873 the Russian General Konstantin von Kaufman launched an attack on the city of Khiva, which fell on 28 May 1873. Although the Russian Empire controlled the Khanate, it allowed Khiva to remain as a nominally quasi-independent protectorate.

Following the Bolshevik seizure of power in Russia after the October Revolution of 1917, a short-lived (1920-1924) Khorezm People's Soviet Republic formed out of the territory of the old Khanate of Khiva before its incorporation into the USSR in 1924. The city of Khiva became part of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic.

## Sights

[edit]

Panoramic view of Khiva (Uzbekistan)

City wall

Khiva is split into two parts. The outer town, called Dichan Kala, was formerly protected by a wall with 11 gates. The inner town, or Itchan Kala, is encircled by brick walls, whose foundations are believed to have been laid in the 10th century. Present-day crenellated walls date back to the late 17th century and attain the height of 10 meters.

Kalta Minor, the large blue tower in the central city square, was supposed to be a minaret. It was built in 1851 by Mohammed Amin Khan, but the Khan died and the succeeding Khan did not complete it.

The old town retains more than 50 historic monuments and 250 old houses, mostly dating from the 18th or 19th centuries. Djuma Mosque, for instance, was established in the 10th century and rebuilt in 1788–89, although its celebrated hypostyle hall still retains 112 columns taken from ancient structures.[9]

Khiva was home to a number of madrassahs (educational establishments), one of which, Sherghazi Khan madrassah, still stands today. It was built in the 18th century by slaves and is one of the oldest buildings in Ichan-Kala, which is the center of present-day Khiva. Among the renowned students of the madrassah were the Uzbek poet Raunaq, the Qaraqalpaq poet Kasybayuly, the Turkmen poet and sufi Magtymguly.[10]

## Industry and production

[edit]

In the town, activities such as the "KhivaCarpet" joint-stock company, cotton cleaning, ginning factories, carpet weaving, the "Khiva Gilami" joint-stock company, and other carpet weaving enterprises, as well as a bread factory, a farmer's market, cultural, trade, and service establishments are operational. There are branches of Urgench University specializing in agro-management, the Uzbek Academy of Sciences Khorezm Mamun Academy, the Qoraqum Scientific Research Station, pedagogical, medical, and tourism colleges, vocational lyceums, a gymnasium, 15 general education schools, a house of culture, 2 special boarding schools, a regional puppet theater, an art school, 2 libraries and their branches, and cultural and recreational gardens.[11][12]

The central hospital, polyclinic, maternity hospital, children's hospital, dental treatment center, central pharmacy, specialized clinics, and other medical facilities are available in the district. Historical and architectural sites in the area include :
the Sayd Alauddin mausoleum, the Pahlavon Mahmud Complex, the Juma Mosque, the Old Ark, Oqshayx Bobo's Palace, Toshhovli Palace, Nurullabai Palace, Muhammad Aminxon Madrasah, Muhammad Rahimxon Madrasah, Islamkhodja Madrasah and Minaret, Olloqulixon Madrasah, Qutlughmurad Inoq Madrasah, Olloqulixon Caravanserai and its market, Anushakhan Bathhouse, Oq Mosque, Polvon Gate, Ota Gate, Bogcha Gate, Tosh Gate, Hazorasp Gate, Kush Gate, and more.[13][14][15]

The town publishes the "Khiva-Sharq Gavhari" magazine (since 2001) and the "Khiva Tongi" district newspaper. The town is a prominent center for global tourism, attracting over 200,000 tourists every year, including nearly 7,000 international visitors. "O'zbekTurizm" national company operates in the town, and several private guesthouses are in operation.

A trolleybus line was established from Khiva to Urgench in 1997. Bus and minibus routes connect Khiva to Tashkent, Bukhara, Navoi, Samarkand, Urgench, Qo'shko'pir, Yangiariq, Bog'ot, Hazorasp, and other major cities and population centers in the region.[16]

## Archaeological and cultural significance

[edit]

Khwarazm occupies a special place in the list of values of universal importance as a major center of world civilization and one of the important centers on the Silk Road.

The unique values of world significance include architectural monuments of Khiva, which has rightfully earned the title of "museum city".

The image of modern Khiva is mainly formed by the architecture of the period of Khiva Khanate of the late XVIII - early XX centuries.

But archaeological excavations underway here show that at the base of a number of relatively "young" remains of buildings are ancient layers dating back to the III and even earlier centuries BC.

## Overview of architectural monuments of Khiva

[edit]

Most of Khiva's architectural masterpieces are concentrated in its urban core – Itchan Kala. It is a "city within a city" surrounded by powerful fortress walls with four gates on each side of the world.

One of the main highways runs from the western gate to the eastern gate, along which the main monumental buildings are concentrated.

From the observation tower of Ak-Sheikh-bobo Itchan-Kala can be seen like in the palm of your hand. The unusual silhouette of the Kalta Minor minaret attracts attention, as if cut down to the middle.

Its massive trunk, exquisitely decorated with wide and narrow belts of glazed brick, indicates that it was conceived as a grandiose, majestic structure, the main vertical of the city.

But after the death of the khan, under whom the minaret was built, it remained unfinished, receiving the name of Kalta (short).

Very close to the Kalta Minar is the Muhammad Aminxon Madrasah, the largest of the preserved buildings of higher theological educational institutions.

The peculiarity of its architecture is the twin hudjras - cells for living of students. Belts of colored brick sets and majolica facings decorate the building wonderfully.

On the territory of Konya Ark (Old Fortress) there is the palace of Muhammad Rahimxon I with rich and unusual interior decoration.

The walls of the hall are decorated with ganch carving with coloring. The neighboring two-storied building is a harem. There are many rich chambers, living rooms.

The Juma Mosque (X century, 1788) is amazing in its beauty. On the entrance doors the date of construction - 1778-1782 years is preserved.

But 210 columns of the mosque, supporting the roof, are much older - from XII to XV centuries. The columns are remarkable for their amazing slenderness, rich ornamental carving.

They were brought here from other ancient buildings, so many columns are unique and do not resemble each other.

At the gates of Polvon darvoza there is a whole ensemble of buildings. The main palace of Khiva khans Toshhovli occupies a special place here.

The architecture of its numerous apartments and decorative furnishings are unique. There are ornamental wood carvings, majolica facings and figurative cartouches.

The palace of Kurnysh-khan was intended for lavish receptions. Once there was a wooden throne in the throne room decorated with silver chasing on a red background.

The building has a beautiful iwan with columns. The palace is also remarkable for its rich majolica wall lining with intricate ornaments.

The Pahlavon Mahmud Memorial Complex was built in memory of the revered Khiva poet, who after his death was canonized as the patron saint of the city.

Nearby is the 45-meter high Islomxo‘ja minaret topped with a through lantern with a dome on top. In the outer part of the city - Dishan qalʼa - there are also many ancient architectural monuments.

## Notable people from Khiva

[edit]

The following people were born in the city.

* Tamara Abaeva (born 1927), historian.
* Sayid Abdullah (1873–1933), Khan of Khiva 1918–1920.
* Khudaibergen Devanov (1879–1940), photographer.
* Islam Khodja (1872–1913), Grand Vizier of the Khanate of Khiva.
* Israil Madrimov (born 1995), boxer.
* Bekjon Rakhmonov (1887–1929), politician.
* Palvanniyaz Khodja Yusupov (1861–1936), politician.
* Muhammad Rahim Khan II of Khiva, Khan of Khiva from 1864 to 1910

## Sister cities

[edit]

The following is a list of Khiva's sister and twinned cities:

* Ankeny, Iowa, United States (2023)
* Nishapur, Iran
* Yazd, Iran (2020)
* San Lorenzo del Escorial, Spain (2019[17])

## See also

[edit]

* Uzbekistan portal

* Al-Khwarizmi
* Bukhara
* Slavery in Asia#Central Asia and the Caucasus
* Trolleybuses in Urgench
* Abdolbobo Mausoleum

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Viloyat bo'yicha shahar va qishloq aholisi soni" [Urban and rural population in the region] (PDF) (in Uzbek). Xorazm regional department of statistics. Archived from the original on 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
2. ^ "Classification system of territorial units of the Republic of Uzbekistan" (in Uzbek and Russian). The State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on statistics. July 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-07-02. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
3. ^ В. А. Булатова, И. И. Ноткин, Архитектурные памятники Хивы. (Путеводитель), Ташкент, 1972; Хива. (Архитектура. Фотоальбом), Л., 1973; Г. Пугаченкова, Термез, Шахрисябз, Хива, (М„ 1976).
4. ^ Patrologia Orientalis Tom. Decimus, p.291 https://archive.org/details/patrologiaorient10pariuoft
5. ^ Nashriyoti, Davr (2012). Khiva: The City and the Legends. Tashkent, Uzbekistan: Davr Nashriyoti LLC. p. 2\. ISBN 9789943339262.
6. ^ "khiva". Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
7. ^ a b "Khiva". Encyclopædia Britannica. May 16, 2018. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
8. ^ Mayers, K. (2016). The First English Explorer: The Life of Anthony Jenkinson (1529-1611) and His Adventures on the Route to the Orient. Storbritannien: Matador. p. 121
9. ^ "Khiva Travel Guide". Caravanistan. Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
10. ^ "Shergazi-Khan Madrasah, Khiva". Advantour. Archived from the original on 2021-05-15. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
11. ^ "ANATOLIY YERSHOV. XIVA — QO'RIQXONA SHAHAR (1988)". www.ziyouz.com. 18 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
12. ^ "Xudoybergan Devonov - birinchi o'zbek fotografining boy ijodi va ayanchli qismati". kun.uz. Archived from the original on 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
13. ^ "Xiva". uztarix.narod.ru. Archived from the original on 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
14. ^ "Xiva – o'tmishga ochilgan vaqt darvozasi". otpusk.uz. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
15. ^ "Fotojamlanma: Xiva - Jahon merosi durdonasi joylashgan shahar". kun.uz. Archived from the original on 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
16. ^ "ANATOLIY YERSHOV. XIVA — QO'RIQXONA SHAHAR (1988)". Xiva. Archived from the original on 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
17. ^ "Khiva and San Lorenzo del Escorial have become sister cities". Archived from the original on 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2021-02-13.

### Publications

[edit]

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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* Campaigning on the Oxus, and the Fall of Khiva, MacGahan, (London, 1874).
* A Ride to Khiva: Travels and Adventures in Central Asia, Frederick Burnaby, (OUP, 1997; first published 1876).
* Russian Central Asia, Lansdell, (London, 1885).
* A travers l'Asie Centrale, Moser, (Paris, 1886).
* Russia against India, Colquhoun, (New York, 1900).
* Khiva, in Russian, S. Goulichambaroff, (Askhabad, 1913).
* A Carpet Ride to Khiva, C. A. Alexander, (London, 2010).

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Khiva.

* Slave trade in Khiva
* Beyond the Bazaars: Geographies of the slave trade in Central Asia
* Khiva travel guide from Wikivoyage

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Xorazm Region

Capital: Urgench

Districts|

* Khiva City
* Urgench City
* Bogʻot
* Gurlan
* Hazorasp
* Khiva
* Qoʻshkoʻpir
* Shovot
* Tuproqqalʼa
* Urganch
* Xonqa
* Yangiariq
* Yangibozor

Cities|

* Khiva
* Pitnak
* Urgench

Towns|

* Bogʻot
* Cholish
* Gurlan
* Hazorasp
* Qoʻshkoʻpir
* Shovot
* Xonqa
* Yangiariq
* Yangibozor

Villages|

* Qorovul

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Tourist attractions in Uzbekistan

World
Heritage
Sites|

| Listed|

* Cold Winter Deserts of Turan
* Historic Centre of Bukhara
* Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz
* Itchan Kala
* Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures
* Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor
* Western Tien-Shan

|

Tentative list|

* Abdulkhan Bandi Dam
* Akhsikath
* Ak Astana-Baba
* Ancient Termiz
* Ancient Pap
* Andijan
* Arab-Ata Mausoleum
* Bahoutdin Architectural Complex
* Boysun
* Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum
* Chor-Bakr
* Desert Castles of Ancient Khorezm
* Hisor Mountains
* Historic Centre of Qoqon
* Kanka
* Khanbandi
* Khazarasp
* Minaret in Vobkent
* Mir-Sayid Bakhrom Mausoleum
* Nurota Mountains
* Poykent
* Rabati Malik Caravanserai
* Sarmishsay petroglyphs
* Shahrukhiya
* Sheikh Mukhtar-Vali Complex
* Shokhimardon Mountains
* Silk Road Sites in Uzbekistan
* Silk Roads: Fergana-Syrdarya Corridor
* Siypantosh Rock Paintings
* Tashkent makhallas
* Tashkent Modernist Architecture
* Varakhsha
* Zomin Mountains
* Zarautsoy Rock Paintings

Cultural|

| Archaeological
sites|

* Afrasiyab
* Akchakhan-Kala
* Akhsikath
* Ancient Pap
* Ayaz-Kala
* Balalyk Tepe
* Burchmullo
* Dalverzin Tepe
* Fayaz Tepe
* Guldursun-Kala
* Hazorasp
* Itchan Kala
* Kafir-kala
* Kara Tepe
* Khalchayan
* Khiva
* Koi Krylgan Kala
* Kyzyl-Kala
* Obi-Rakhmat Grotto
* Orlat plaques
* Poykent
* Sarmishsay
* Shahrukhiya
* Siypantosh Rock Paintings
* Tavka Kurgan
* Toprak-Kala
* Zarautsoy Rock Paintings

|
|

Complexes|

* Bahoutdin Architectural Complex
* Lyab-i Hauz
* Po-i-Kalyan
* Registan

Forts|

* Ark of Bukhara
* Urda fortress

Madrasas|

* Kukeldash Madrasa
* The Madrasa of Abulkosim
* Madrasah of Nadir Divan-begi
* Mir-i Arab Madrasa
* Sher-Dor Madrasah
* Tilya-Kori Madrasah
* Ulugh Beg Madrasa
* Saroyi Tash Madrasah

Mausoleums|

* Ak Astana-Baba
* Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum
* Chor-Bakr
* Gur-e-Amir
* Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin
* Mir-Sayid Bakhrom Mausoleum
* Saif ed-Din Bokharzi &
Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleums
* Samanid Mausoleum
* Sayyed Bahram Mausoleum
* Shah-i-Zinda
* Sheikh Mukhtar-Vali Complex
* Sheihantaur
* Sultan Saodat

Museums|

* Afrasiab Museum of Samarkand
* Amir Timur Museum
* Archaeological Museum of Termez
* Art Gallery of Uzbekistan
* Bukhara State Architectural
Art Museum-Preserve
* Memorial house museum of Tamara Khanum
* Museum Afshona
* Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan
* The Museum of Communication
History in Uzbekistan
* Museum of Geology
* The Museum of Health Care of Uzbekistan
* Museum of Olympic Glory
* Museum of Victims of
Political Repression in Tashkent
* Nukus Museum of Art
* Shahrisabz Museum of
History and Material Culture
* State Museum of Culture History of Uzbekistan (Samarkand)
* State Museum of History of Uzbekistan
* State Museum of Nature of Uzbekistan
* Tashkent Museum of Railway Techniques
* Tashkent Planetarium
* Tashkent Polytechnical Museum
* The Alisher Navoi State Museum of Literature
* Ulugh Beg Observatory

Places
of worship|

* Ak Mosque
* Baland Mosque
* Bibi-Khanym Mosque
* Bolo Haouz Mosque
* Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God
* Chor Minor
* Dzhuma Mosque
* Kalân Mosque
* Kalyan minaret
* Khonakhan Mosque
* Magok-i-Attari Mosque
* Magok-i-Kurpa Mosque
* Mosque of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani
* Sacred Heart Cathedral
* St. John the Baptist Church

Theaters|

* Navoi Theater
* Peoples' Friendship Palace

Others|

* Khanaka of Nadir Divan-begi
* Monument to Nizami Ganjavi in Tashkent
* Mustaqillik Maydoni
* Rabati Malik
* Siyob Bazaar
* Square of Martyrs in Uzbekistan
* Tashkent Tower

Natural|

| Lakes|

* Aydar Lake
* Lake Charvak

|

National parks|

* Chatkalskiy State Nature Reserve
* Zaamin National Park

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Iranian architecture

Periods|

| Pre-Islamic|

* Achaemenid
* Parthian style
* Sasanian

|

Islamic|

* Early Islamic
* Seljuk
* Ilkhanid
* Timurid
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Types|

* Bazaars
* Caravanserais
* Khaneqah
* Mosques
* Takyeh

Elements|

* Ab anbar
* Andaruni
* Biruni
* Burj
* Chahartaq
* Dalan e Vorudi
* Gonbad
* Hashti
* Howz
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* Iwan
* Kariz
* Kucheh
* Panjdari
* Persian Garden (hayāt)
* Qanat
* Sahn
* Shabestan
* Talar
* Windcatchers
* Yakhchāl

Traditional cities|

* Āina-kāri
* Amol
* Andijan
* Baku
* Bam
* Bukhara
* Ctesiphon
* Derbent
* Ganja
* Gur-e-Amir
* Hatra
* Herat
* Isfahan
* Kashan
* Kashmar
* Khiva
* Khorramabad
* Mashhad
* Merv
* Nakhchivan
* Nishapur
* Persepolis
* Qazvin
* Qom
* Samarkand
* Shahrisabz
* Shiraz
* Susa
* Tabriz
* Takht-e Soleymān
* Tehran
* Yazd

Theory and analysis|

* Islamic architecture
* Traditional Persian residential architecture
* Traditional water sources of Persian antiquity

Lists|

* Architects of Iran
* Args, castles, and ghal'ehs
* List of ab anbars of Qazvin
* List of mosques
* List of ziyarat-gahs

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Turkic Capitals of Culture, Tourism, Youth, Agriculture & Digital

Culture|

* Astana (2012)
* Eskişehir (2013)
* Kazan (2014)
* Mary (2015)
* Shaki (2016)
* Turkistan (2017)
* Kastamonu (2018)
* Osh (2019)
* Khiva (2020–21)
* Bursa (2022)
* Shusha (2023)
* Anau (2024)
* Aktau (2025)

Tourism|

* Kokand (2022)
* Shamakhi (2023)
* Turkistan (2024)
* Jalal-Abad (2025)
* Ankara (2026)

Youth|

* Bukhara (2022)
* Istanbul (2023)
* Lankaran (2024)

Agriculture|

* Quba (2024)
* Taraz (2025)

Digital|

* Bishkek (2025)

* Turkistan (spiritual)
* Samarkand (Turkic civilization)

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
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National|

* Germany
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Other|

* Yale LUX

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