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Khiva - The museum under the blue sky
Khiva may be a small city -- its population barely tops 40,000 -- but its history as the best preserved stop on the old Silk Road gives it a broad appeal for tourists tracing the historic trading route. In the Khorezm oasis of the Kara-Kum Desert, Khiva was the capital of the Khivan Khanate from 1592 until the Bolshevik take-over in 1920.
Nobody seems to know exactly how old this ancient city is, though the story goes that Khiva was founded by none other than Shem, the son of Noah (of and the Ark fame); at the very least, the city dates back to the 7th century, and probably much earlier. Despite its seemingly romantic history as a Silk Road oasis, the city became most notable as Central Asias biggest slave trade center.
For those whove seen old cities at their best and worst, Khiva may feel a bit like the Williamsburg of the East, for its genuine dirt and din were swept clean by an aggressive Soviet sanitation in the 1970s. Intent on transforming the traditionally teeming city into a living museum, Khiva was purged of much of its ancient bustle, and its buildings were scrubbed down (or, in the case of some landmarks, such as the 9th century Dzhuma Mosque, rebuilt) and turned into public exhibits.
 Khiva is a day-trip city - good hotels and other tourist services are in short supply - but its a popular excursion from Urgench. Most of the citys mosques, minarets and other landmarks, renowned for their delicate majolica tiles and naturalistic paintings, are located in the historic Ichon-Qala area.
Must-sees include the exquisite 19th century Tosh-Khovli Palace, the 225-foot tall Islam-Khodzha Minaret, and Pahlavon Mahmuds mausoleum, with its proverb-embossed tiles, honoring the great Khivan philosopher and teacher.
Source: http://www.tashkent.org/uzland/khiva.html
History and monuments
Khiva is one of the oldest cities of the world, and undoubtedly it is considered to be the unique pearl of Eastern Architecture. It is situated in 25 kilometers south from modern Urgench. Old times this city belonged to Old Khorezm state. The early information about Khiva were met starting in Xc in Arabic-Persian historical Geographic sources. Al Istakhriy (930 y) the historian included Khiva to 30 big cities of that period.
As for legends the place of Khiva formerly was situated in present Ichan-Qala, and in its time originally there was a desert. This desert had a well with turbulent water was called "Kheyvaq" and this well made this place popular among caravans, which grew later to the city.
 According to Archeological historical research the basic foundation of Khiva Ichanqala had 4 periods of development:
1. First period V c B.C in this time people started to move to Ichanqala,
because the finds of ceramic and the remains of clay walls belong to this period. At the end of V B.C in Khorezm Akhemenid's dynasty stops it's existence and independent Khorezm state was established.
2. Second period the full development of Ichanqala as a city fortress, in this
time the fundament of the city was founded and the city was surrounded with thick walls with defensive towers. This took place in IV-III B.C.
3. Third period in l-IV cc (Kushon period). This is the time of Khiva's flourishment, in the middle of the city there was built the city ark (Fortress). But towards the end of V c there was declining period of the city.
4. Fourth period reincarnation time of Khiva. In this period (VI-VIII c ) all Khorezm valley was covered with populated settlements.
Further Brief Historical dates:
- Flourishment time for Khiva under Khorezmshakhs in XII-XIII cc.
- Devastating expedition of Chingiskhan of Khiva in 1220-21.
- Khiva under Chigatoy ulus's government in XIII-XIV cc.
- Khiva's relationship with Russia, Middle and Near East in Temuride's period of XV-XVI cc.
-Iran's prince Nadirshakh's occupation of Khiva in 1 740. 20 leadership of Khiva were killed by him.
- Political and economic decline of Khiva in the middle of XVIII cc after inter ethnic conflicts between tribes and nomads. Unmerciful Turkmen-Yovmuts feudal power in Khiva.
- Muhammad Amin Inaq's ruling of Khiva in 1 762.
- Unpeaceful governing of Khiva by Sherghazikhan in 1 715-28.
- KungiratEltuzarkhan's dynasty in Khiva 1804-06 and until XXc.
- Russian occupation of Khiva in 1873 may 29.
What to see?
- Ichanqala a museum city. City walls dating back IV-VI c.
- Ota darvoza gate (1 716)
- Tosh Darvoza gate (1830-1855)
 - Muhammad Amin Khan medresse (1843/55).
- Kalta Minor (1852)
- Kukhna Ark (beginning of XIX c)
- Summer Mosque (1838).
- Kurinishkhana Throne Room (1804-06).
- Khan's Harem (1806).
- Zindan(1910)
- Muhammad Rahimkhan Medresse.
- Pakhlavon Makhmud Mausoleum (1810-35).
- Serghozikhon medresse (1718-20) built dedicated to Shergazi's victory over Khorasan.
- Islamkhoja Medresse and Minaret (1910).
- Russian Local school (built opposite minaret in 1912).
- Qutluk Murod Inaqkhan Medresse (1811).
- Juma mosque (1 788).
- Matpanoboy medesse (1905).
- Abdulla Kham medesse (1855).
- Anusha khan bath (1655).
- Olloqulikhan medresse (1834).
Dishan qala
Sayid Niyaz Sholikor Boy medresse (1842).
- Sayid Mirumkhan mausoleum (1884)
- Nurullaboy Palace (1906-12).
- ShaykhMehtar Vali mausoleum (1 807).
- TozaSoR Summer Palace (1893-1913) of Muhammad Rahimkhon II.
Source: Tashkentnama by Abdulaziz Muhammadkarimov
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