Monday 29th September

 

Opposite our hotel were the walls of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Khiva, formerly one of the great cities of the Great Silk Road of central Asia.

From the top of the Islam Khodja minaret (57metres and 67 very steep steps!)

 

we were able to get an overview of the city.

 

All the buildings are made out of sandstone which weathers easily and thus has to be restored at regular intervals.The Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum was constructed in the traditions of the 18th and 19th centuries and was built in honour of the famous Khivan poet of the same name, who was also famous for his Herculean strength.

 

 

 

The uncompleted Kalta Minor minaret was supposed to be the highest in Central Asia but construction stopped at 29 metres. There are several stories as to why it was never finished, one of them being that the Emir of Bukhara asked the master builder to build one for him as soon as he had finished the Khiva one. However the Khivan khan ordered that the builder be executed as soon as he had finished so he couldn't construct any more but the builder heard about this plan and ran away leaving the minaret unfinished., It is a unique minaret completely covered with glazed tiles in the traditional design.

 

 

 

The blue tiling is found everywhere in Khiva, perhaps nowhere so spectacularly as in the Old Fortress with its reception halls, winter and summer mosques as well as all manner of subsidiary buildings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Sheikh Seyid Allauddin mausoleum we came across this Family who, having just received a blessing, were on their way to the circumcision ceremony (and party!) for the small boy in the centre.

 

 

The ceilings and decoration inside were absolutely beautiful.