Where is the city of Khiva located? Open the left menu of the hive. Archaeological and cultural significance

Khiva is believed to be 2500 years old. They say that this oldest city in the world was founded by the Biblical Shem (Shoma) - the son of Noah. First described in Persian and Arabic sources in the 10th century CE, Khiva began to acquire its power and political influence from the 16th to 18th centuries to become the capital of the powerful Khanate of Khiva.

Sights of Khiva

1. Kunya-Arc

Translated from Turkic languages, Kunya-Ark means “ old fortress" - citadel. The fortress served as the official residence for many generations of Khiva khans; until 1920, a khan lived in Kunya-Ark. The square in front of the central gate is the main square of the city. For many centuries, training camps and parades were held on this square, which the khan watched from the fortress wall. Behind the fortress wall in Kunya-Ark were located: reception hall, khan's office, winter and summer mosque, mint and of course the famous khan's harem, as well as many utility rooms, of which during the tour it is worth paying attention to the stables; the khan, like most rulers of the east, loved horses.

Ichan-Kala)

Center of Khiva or Ichan-Kala (inner city)- is unique in that it gives the traveler a clear and complete idea of ​​what the medieval Central Asian city looked like. That is why back in 1984 Khiva was included in the list World Heritage UNESCO, long before Samarkand and Bukhara were included there.

Ichan-Kala is a real tourist attraction of Khiva; just within the fenced territory of the inner city you can see more than 60 architectural monuments: fortresses, gateways, madrassas, mosques, mausoleums, minarets, caravanserais and baths. The uniqueness of Khiva is that Ichan-Kala is not only a “museum city”, but also a place where more than 4,000 people live local residents, so there is a real living spirit here Central Asia.


3. Juma Mosque

The Juma Mosque in Khiva is one of the most unique mosques in Central Asia, famous primarily for its archaic architecture, it was built in 1788-1789.Measuring 55 meters by 46 meters in area, the mosque is distinguished by its carved wooden gates, 213 carved wooden columns and a 47 meter high minaret. Approximately25 pillars date back to the 10th-16th centuries, of which there or seven pillars date back to the original 10th-century mosque, although the current building dates from the 18th century.Light enters the mosque only through two openings on the roof (skylights), which bring an atmosphere of mystery to the interior and also improve the acoustics of the premises.

From inside you can climb up a dark and narrow staircase to a flooded bright sun observation deck 47-meterminaret of the Juma mosque, from where the beautiful panoramic view to Khiva.


The Tash-Hauli palace)

Tash-Khauli, literally meaning "stone courtyard", the main palace was built by Allakuli Khan of the Kungrad dynasty - the only Khiva khan who did not like to live in Kunya-Ark. Interestingly, the harem was built first and only then mekhmonkhona - a place for official receptions and lastly - arzkhona, the courtroom.The Khan's ambitions led to the unique design of the Tash-Khauli Palace, which surpasses old palace according to the degree of variety of patterns - majolica, wood and marble carvings, as well as painted ornaments.

Two separate entrances lead to two separate wings of the palace.In the northern harem there is an exhibition of crafts. INin the south wing there is a throne room.


The Pahlavan-Mahmud mausoleum)

A magnificent turquoise dome crowns the mausoleum, built on the grave of the Sufi, poet, invincible fighter and patron of Khiva - Pakhlavan Mahmud.The interior walls, ceiling and tombstone have continuous blue majolica tiles.The sacred well in the courtyard is said to contain water with healing qualities, and a bucket from the well is believed to ensure a happy future for dozens of newlyweds.The mausoleum is popular place Muslim pilgrimage.


The Kalta-Minor minaret)

Kalta-Minor means “short minaret” in Turkic.It is only 26 meters high, but its base is 14 meters in diameter.If it were built to its full height, it would surpass all known minarets in the Muslim world and would be 75 meters high!Alas, the construction of the minaret was stopped after the death of the founder of the construction, Muhammad Amin Khan, who died in a battle near Serakhs.This minaret is the only one in all of Central Asia that is completely covered with enamel bricks and majolica.


The Islam-Hozha minaret)

It is considered one of the main attractions of Khiva.In its conical shape, the minaret, 45 meters high, resembles the Kutlug-Timur minaret in Kunya-Urgench (Turkmenistan).Rising above the surrounding neighborhoods, the minaret is visible from any part of the city.It served as a kind of beacon for caravans.


lakeShorkul)

30 kilometers from Khiva, in the sands of the Karakum Desert, there is a real natural landmark of Uzbekistan, Lake Shorkul. Lovers active rest can take a walk or swim be in it. The lake is home to thousands of birds, including pelicans, cormorants, ducks and swans.



Guide:

Madrasah Kalta – Minor

Kalta Minor (Uzbek Kalta Minor) is a minaret in Khiva, located on the territory of the Ichan-Kala citadel. It is located to the right of the Muhammad Amin Khan madrasah, and is sometimes considered part of it.
The name Kalta Minor is translated from Uzbek as a short minaret.

Toprak-Kala and Kirk-Kyz-Kala

They date back almost two thousand years and are called Toprak-Kala. At one time, it was not only the personal apartments of the Khorezm Khan, but also the center of the capital of ancient Khorezm. The Khorezmian state was located in the valley largest rivers Uzbekistan - Amu Darya and Syr Darya.

Madrasah of Muhammad Amin Khan

Madrasah of Muhammad Amin Khan (1852-1853), which is the largest madrasah in Khiva. It was built during the reign of Muhammad Amin Khan. You will see that the madrasah is located on a high platform, and this makes it seem even more impressive; it seems that it hangs over the adjacent street.

Koi-Kyrylgan-Kala

Koi-Kyrylgan-Kala is part of Uzbekistan, and it was on its territory that ancient Khorezm, a great state, was once located. For more than two and a half thousand years this story has been kept by many ancient fortresses. One of them is the Koi-Kyrylgan-Kala settlement - a military fortification of the 4th century BC.

Madrasah of Muhammad Rahim Khan

Hello! Once again I, Ali, are with you and today I will tell you about the madrasah of Muhammad Rahim Khan, which is located near Kunya-Ark. Said Muhammad Rahim Bahadur Khan was the full name of the khan, whom the people called Madraim Khan II. By his order, the construction of a madrasah began. The grandiose construction of two courtyards, a darshona, 76 hujras, a library and winter and summer mosques was completed in 1876.

Necropolis Mizdakhan

This place is a real tourist Mecca and is extremely popular among tourists. The necropolis is located near the capital of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Nukus. Karakalpakstan as a whole is considered one grandiose archaeological site, where many fortresses of ancient Khorezm were found. Therefore, tours here are in demand.

This is one of the most famous cities in Central Asia, the capital of Karakalpakstan, which is part of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is famous not only for its age, which is more than two and a half thousand years old; not only because since 1598 it was the capital of the Khorezm state, and the Great Silk Road passed through it. But also because a great many ancient sights and archaeological cultural monuments have been preserved around.

Main attractions: names, descriptions

  • Kheyvak well . This is actually the center ancient capital and the beginning of its foundation. The legend says that one of Noah’s sons, Shem, wandered for a long time in the desert (the Kyzylkum sands still surround the city) in search of quenching his thirst and, tired, fell asleep. And in a dream he saw that where he was lying there was water. Waking up, Sim dug a well with delicious water and named it “Heyvak”. The same name went to the city that Shem built around the well. Over the centuries, this word was transformed into the familiar Khiva. And the well still exists today.
  • Ichan-kala – one of the main attractions of the city of Khiva. Literally translated as “inner city”, in fact it is a part of ancient Khiva preserved almost untouched, in its original form. The Kheivak well, which gave the city its name, is also located here. Ichan-Kala is an ancient building surrounded by wide ancient walls: madrassas, real palaces, madrassas, mausoleums and just residential buildings. Yes, this is a completely inhabited place: antiquity preserved in modern times, a museum under open air.
  • Minaret of Kalta Minor - “Short minaret.” It really looks short, even chopped off, completely different from the traditional slender and soaring minarets of the Ancient East. The width of its base is 14.5 meters, and its height is only 29. Another 15 meters is the foundation. However, thanks to this “non-standard appearance” Kalta-Minor became the “calling card” of the Khorezm capital. And it is very beautiful - white and blue, shining against the background of other brownish buildings, covered with clear ceramics that have not faded for hundreds of years.
  • Madrasah of Muhammad Amin Khan. The largest in Khiva and throughout Central Asia, located on an area of ​​4300 sq. meters, 260 students could study there at the same time. This madrasah is relatively young compared to Ichan-Kala, on whose territory it is located: it was built in the 50s of the 19th century by order of Khan Amin Muhammad. The building is richly decorated with glazed burnt brick and ceramic mosaics. According to Eastern custom, wooden doors are densely covered with carvings with floral patterns.
  • Islam-Khoja complex. One of the youngest and most beautiful Khiva architectural ensembles and complexes: its construction dates back to the early years of the 20th century. It includes a madrasah and a minaret of the same name. Moreover, this madrasah is the smallest in the city, and the minaret, on the contrary, is the tallest. Its height is almost 60 meters, and the cone-shaped column topped with a pointed dome is visible not only from anywhere in Khiva, but also beyond its borders.
  • Juma mosque - Friday. Located in the heart of Ichan-Kala. At the same time, it is quite young – built “only” from the end of the 18th century, but at the same time ancient – ​​from the 10th century. This is explained by the fact that in the 18th century the mosque, which had suffered over 800 years of time, was rebuilt almost from scratch. The initiator and philanthropist of such a large-scale reconstruction was Khan Abdurakhman Mehtar. Unlike traditional eastern mosques with galleries and portals, the Friday Mosque has only one floor and three entrances. Most Big hall supported by 213 wooden columns, covered from top to bottom with exquisite carvings.
It is not known for certain when the city was founded on the site of modern Uzbek Khiva. It is assumed that it appeared more than 2.5 thousand years ago, although the first mentions of it in written sources date back to the 10th century. Travelers of that time pointed out that Khiva was located on the caravan route from Gurganch to Merv (the modern names of these cities are Kunya Urgench and Mary).
Khiva became a predominantly Muslim city in the 8th century: in 712 it was conquered by Kuteib ibn Muslim, the governor of the Persian region of Khorasan. Over the next few centuries, Khiva, together with the Khorezm state, came under the control of various ruling dynasties Muslim world: Africans, Seljuks and Anushteginids.
In the period from 1097 to 1231, the state of the Khorezmshahs existed, and Khiva was part of it. However, the greatest power of this empire, which stretched across the territory of modern Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Southern Kazakhstan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, was stopped by the Mongol invasion. In 1220, the Khorezm state was literally wiped off the face of the earth by the troops of Genghis Khan. Khiva was destroyed.
In 1511, the Shibanid dynasty reigned in the Khiva Khanate (as the Khorezm state was usually called in the last period of its existence). In 1598, Khiva became the capital of the Khiva Khanate.
The transfer of the capital from Urgench was due to the fact that the river bed changed and difficult living conditions developed in the city: the townspeople lost a reliable source of water and access to.
The acquisition of a new status by Khiva gave the city an impetus for development. It began to grow rapidly and as a result became one of the educational and religious centers states. Arab Muhammad Khan (d. 1621), who ruled in 1603-1621, made a special contribution to the development of Khiva. and making Khiva one of the most beautiful cities in the state on a par with Samarkand and. In particular, by order of the ruler in 1616, a madrasah was erected in the city in honor of the naming of Khiva as the capital of the Khorezm state.
In 1873, Khiva was captured by Russian troops under the leadership of General Konstantin von Kaufmann, who five years earlier managed to conquer Samarkand. As a result, part of the Khiva state passed to the Russian Empire, the territories became part of the Amu-Darya department of the Turkestan region.
As part of the Russian Empire, the Khiva Khanate enjoyed a certain freedom: the internal laws of the region were in effect here, and the formal control of Russia, although it influenced the life of the state, was insignificant. Khiva acquired even greater importance in trade, as Russian merchants began to pass through the city, and Russian firms and trading houses opened here. In addition, the work of local artisans, whose products began to be in great demand, became much more profitable.
The Khanate of Khiva finally ceased to exist in 1919, when local authorities were overthrown by the Red Army. As a result, the Khorezm Soviet was formed people's republic with its capital in Khiva, and in 1924 the Khorezm lands were divided between the Uzbek and Turkmen SSRs.

City-Museum of Uzbekistan

Khiva is located in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya in the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan. The city is divided into two districts: Ichan-Kala, hidden behind the fortress walls, and Diigan-Kala, built outside them. More than 250 historical buildings have been preserved on the territory of Khiva.
Khiva has preserved many architectural monuments, allowing us to imagine the life of the Khiva Khanate.
Nowadays, Khiva is a city-museum that reminds of the life of the Khorezm state that has long ceased to exist.
Historically, the city of Khiva was divided into two districts. Ichan-Kala, which means “inner city,” is located in the historical center of the city behind the ancient fortress walls. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Dishan-Kala is the “outer” part of Khiva, built outside the ring of fortifications.
Architectural monuments preserved in the historical part of Khiva date mainly from the period of the 18th-20th centuries. However, archaeological excavations have revealed the remains of much earlier buildings, including the remains of fortress walls and burials from the 1st millennium BC, on the foundations of which new buildings were erected.
One of the most ancient structures that survived in Khiva is the mausoleum of Sheikh Seyid Allauddin, which was erected in the 14th century. The original baked brick building, built over the sheikh’s grave, has survived to this day, but its interior decoration has been lost over the centuries.
The mausoleum of Pakhlavan Mahmud, built in the mid-19th century, became a popular place of pilgrimage in its time. It contains the poet Pahlavan Mahmud, who made his living by handicraft and became the hero of urban legends as an invincible hero. Over time, Pakhlavan Mahmud began to be considered the patron saint of Khiva. As a result, a mosque and a khanaka - a Sufi monastery - were built next to the mausoleum. Burial places of noble people appeared around the complex.
The symbol of Khiva is the Kalta Minar, built within Ichan Kala. What makes it unique unusual design: blue majolica and glazed tiles cover the entire structure. The size of the tower made the minaret famous: it has a diameter of more than 14 m. The name of the Kalta Minar minaret is translated as “short tower”: it was supposed to be much higher, but the work on its construction was never completed.
The spiritual center of Khiva is the Friday Juma Mosque. The original building was built in the 10th century, but in the 18th century. it was rebuilt at the expense of Khan Abdurahman Mehtar. True, during the construction of the new mosque, 21 columns were used, created for the first building in the 10th-12th centuries. In 1905, the Kazi-Kalyan madrasah was added to the mosque, within the walls of which both religious and secular disciplines were taught.
Inside historical city The Kunya-Ark fortress is located, intended for the ruler of the Khorezm state and equipped with special security. Construction of the fortress began at the end of the 17th century, but the work was completely completed only in the 19th century. In front of the fortress is one of the main squares of Khiva, where military parades and executions were held.
Beautiful view of the historical part of Khiva with all its architectural gems opens from the fortified tower of Ak-Sheikh-bobo, which belongs to the Kunya-Ark fortress. Previously it was used as an observation tower.


general information

Location: north-west of Uzbekistan.
Administrative affiliation: Khorezm region of Uzbekistan.

Language: Uzbek.
Ethnic composition: Uzbeks, Turkmens, Karakalpaks, etc.
Religion: Islam.
Currency unit: sum
Nearest airport: international Airport Urgench.

Numbers

Historical center area: 2.4 km 2 .
Ichan-Kala Square: 0.26 km 2 .
Population of Khiva: 51,200 people. (2004).
Khiva population density: 220 people/km 2 .
Average altitude: 96 m.
Distance: 1013 km from Tashkent.

Climate and weather

Sharply continental, characterized by cold winters and hot, dry summers.
Average January temperature: +1.9°C.
Average temperature in July: +26.7°C.
Average annual precipitation: 80-90 mm.
Average annual air humidity: 58%.

Economy

Industry: light (cotton, carpet weaving).
Agriculture: livestock.
Crafts, including ceramics.
Service sector: tourism.

Attractions

■ Cult: Juma mosque (XVIII century), Hassan Murad Kushbegi mosque (late 18th century), Bagbanli mosque (1809), Sheikh Mukhgar Ata mosque (1810-1838), Atajan-Tura mosque and madrasah (1893- 1899).
■ Historical: Kunya-Ark fortress (XVII century), mausoleum of Sheikh Seyid Allauddin (XIV century), Tash-Khauli Palace (1830-1838), Kalta Minar minaret (mid-XIX century), mausoleum of Pakhlavan Mahmud (mid-XIX century) V.).

Curious facts

■ Kalta Minar was intended to be the largest minaret in the East. However, the work was never completed. There are several versions as to why the bold plan was never realized. According to one of them, the customer - Muhammad Amin Khan - died before the minaret was built. According to another, the master fled because they wanted to secretly kill him after the completion of the Kalta Minar, so that he could not build the same tower in Bukhara.
■ There is a legend telling about the founding of the city of Khiva. It says that on the site of the future Khiva, Shem - one of the sons of Noah - dug the well Kheivak, which contained very tasty water. Here the city subsequently grew, originally bearing the name of the well.

In the past one of largest cities state of the Khorezmshahs, the city of Khiva has rich history and legacy. The sights of Khiva are located very close to each other. A visit to Khiva means long walks from one madrasah to another, from a mausoleum to a palace or another mosque. An elderly but prosperous city is located on the territory of the modern Karakalpak Republic. Due to its location, bordering Turkmenistan, the city was one of the central points of the Great Silk Road.

This contributed to the development of trade in the city, from which the city quickly became rich. Over the centuries-old history of its existence, Khiva managed to be the capital of the khanate of the same name, as well as the capital of the Timurid dynasty. About 2500 years ago, if you believe the legends, the Kheivak well, which to this day is located in the inner part of the city of Ichan-Kala and is the brightest landmark of Khiva, marked the beginning of the formation of a settlement around it and, subsequently, an entire city, attracting tourists from all over the world. This well still exists today. Anyone can see it.

Open-air museum

Many of the sights of Khiva were built back in the 18th - early 20th centuries, which is precisely the heyday of construction and construction of structures, some of which we can see to this day. Ichan-Kala is a fortress surrounding the city on all sides. It has been preserved in excellent condition and demonstrates the strength and grandeur of the ancient city. The fortress wall was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The outstandingly beautiful and unfinished minaret of Kalta Minor became business card cities. But it could have become the tallest minaret in the world, but it was not completed. Many legends surround every building in Khiva. Objects located inside the walls of the fortress are of interest. But there is also the outer part of the city (residential area) Dishan-Kala. There you can observe not only archaeological, but also anthropological values ​​that are reverently protected by the people even today. This is a developed handicraft, customs and traditions of the people, applied art. On holidays, Khiva becomes brighter, because everything that is hidden within the walls of crafts and weaving workshops throughout the year is put on display on holidays.

A description of Khiva and its attractions will take a lot of time. It is much more interesting to visit the city and not just see, but take part in the folk festivals. Performances of local ensembles at the venues of Ichan-Kala and madrassas, bright outfits of dancers, combined with Khiva glaze on buildings, ancient architecture, all this together can captivate tourists so much that they are ready to stay and live in Khiva. However, there are not as many hotels in the old town as in others. Therefore, it is better to book a room in advance. However, it is much easier to use the services and forget about such worries. We will do everything for you, and you can enjoy your vacation without any hassle.

In the middle of the hot desert sands Kyzylkum, located in an oasis on the left bank of the Amu Darya ancient city Khiva. If you believe the legend, it was founded by Shim (Shem), the son of Noah.

Previously, these lands were called Khorasmia, and later - Khvarezm And Khorezm, they were one of the centers of the Great Silk Road.

More than a hundred ancient sights have still been preserved here, which is why Old Khiva is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is useless to describe Khiva in words, you need to see it, because it is a truly amazing city.

Region
Khorezm region

Population

6th century BC

Population density

5571.9 people/km²

Timezone

Postal code

International dialing code

Climate and weather

The climate in these places sharply continental, arid. In summer average temperature air is +30 °С, in winter it drops on average to -5 °C. It rains here mainly in spring, and in winter there is practically no snow. Air humidity is low all year round.

Nature

Khiva is located in the desert, on a plain in the river delta Amu Darya. There are practically no mineral resources here.

There is sparse natural vegetation on the sands: saxaul, hard-leaved shrubs. Tugai forests and reed thickets grow along the banks of the Amu Darya. Nutria and muskrat acclimatized in the river. It is also home to such fish as catfish, barbel, bream, asp, carp, and Amu Darya trout.

The desert is home to jackals and a variety of lizards. Birds are represented by such species as golden eagles, crows, and bearded vultures.

South of Khiva there are several small salt lakes, swamps and salt marshes, which arose as a result of flooding in the summer with water from canals and groundwater.

Attractions

Khiva is a real open-air museum.

Old city included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This part of the city, according to historians, was founded in the 5th century. BC, it is surrounded by a city wall, which is part of Ichan-Kala complex, which translated means "Old city". The first buildings on this site were built here in the 5th century. BC, and today this complex includes more than 60 attractions.

It's worth checking out these unique places like a citadel Kunya-Ark XVII century. The east gate is worth a look Palvan-Darvaza, southern Tash-Darvaza, northern Bagcha-Darvaza and the most important ones - Ata-Darvaza. All of them were built in the 17th-18th centuries.

Visit the Tash-Khauli Palace, which was the residence Alla-Kuli-Khana in the 19th century. An interesting landmark is the minaret Kalta Minor. Its walls are decorated with glazed tiles.

The local mosque is very famous Juma, which was built in the 18th century. It has 218 carved columns.

The symbol of Khiva is the minaret Islam Khoja. It was built relatively recently, at the very beginning of the 20th century, but it is distinguished by its height: it is 56 meters.

In general, there are a lot of minarets, mausoleums and mosques in Old Khiva. A dozen articles would not be enough to describe them all.

Outside the old part of the city there is another one called Dishan-Kala. It is too ancient part Khiva, only here there were shopping arcades and residential streets. Dishan-Kala also surrounded by a wall. Here it is worth paying attention to the palace Qibla-Tozaborg XIX century and the four gates.

The palace is worth visiting Nurulla-Baya and also visit the madrasah Said Niyaz Shalikar-Bai.

An interesting monument of architecture and history is the mausoleum Abdal-Bobo, which dates back to the VIII-XVIII centuries.

The house of a famous photographer from Khiva is open for tourists to visit Khudaibergen Devanova. And these are not all the places that are worth visiting while traveling around the city.

Nutrition

Uzbek cuisine has always been famous for its delicious dishes. But Uzbeks value not only dishes, but also the process of preparing them.

King national cuisine Uzbekistan can rightfully be considered pilaf. There are many ways to prepare it, and it is somewhat different in every city. Be sure to try it in Khiva.

In addition to pilaf, try such traditional dishes as shurpa, buglama, dimlama, manti. They have long become popular all over the world, but only in Uzbekistan can you try them prepared according to the most traditional recipe.

Uzbeks generously add vegetables, fruits and grains to their dishes, and consume a lot of fermented milk products.

Food is usually taken with hands, sitting on the floor or at a low table. Tea, sweets and fruits are served first, followed by vegetables and salads. Then comes the turn of soups: aromatic shurpa or thick mastava. Well, they finish the meal with meat dishes: pilaf, manti, shish kebab, lagman.

Accommodation

Khiva has a well-developed infrastructure. There's quite a lot here good hotels and mini-hotels. Recently, a network of mini-hotels has begun to actively develop B&B. In most hotels, breakfast is included in the price.

The most popular hotels in Khiva: Arkanchi Hotel 5*, Scheherazade 2*.

A night in a small hotel in Khiva will cost you from $35 per night for a single room and from $50-60 for a double room.

You can rent a house or apartment for a day, but such offers are few.

Entertainment and relaxation

In Uzbekistan, nature has created excellent conditions for active recreation. Here you can go kayaking and rafting: try to curb the rapid flows of the Amu Darya!

From Khiva you can go to the mountains in the south of Uzbekistan. They are considered to be suitable place to go trekking and mountaineering. Several dozen routes of varying difficulty have been developed here. You can choose a route according to your abilities. For example, one of the most difficult ones here is access to the peaks Victory(7439 m), Korzhenevskaya(7105 m), Khan Tengri(6995 m).

If you are into speleology, you will also like it here. Here are the deepest Asian caves - Boy-Bulok and Kyiv. Well, if you go west Tien Shan, you can admire underground rivers and lakes.

On March 21, Uzbekistan celebrates the spring equinox, the renewal of nature. This festival is called Nowruz. During it, there are dances, musical performances, atmospheric fairs and street performances.

Well, if you have the opportunity, visit the local Festival of Culture of Ancient Khorezm. For a few days here everything becomes subject to traditions and customs. This is all done on the initiative of local residents. They hospitably open their homes, invite people to visit them, and demonstrate various traditional crafts: wood carving, basket weaving, weaving, silk embroidery. Khiva residents always treat guests to festive pilaf, flatbreads and green tea.

Purchases

In ancient times, the city of Khiva was one of the centers of the Silk Road. There have always been many merchants here. This trend has continued to this day: there are large and rich city markets and street shops. In general, if you want to know how the indigenous people live and feel the whole flavor of the city, go to the bazaar. By the way, people like to bargain here, and it’s best to go there early in the morning.

Buy some ceramic product as a souvenir of your trip to Khiva. There are many schools of ceramics in Uzbekistan, each of them has its own distinctive style.

Another wonderful reminder of the trip will be an embroidered picture self made. In general, everything is embroidered here: paintings, clothes, accessories, and the variety of designs is simply amazing.

Often national clothes are brought from Uzbekistan as a souvenir. For men this is a festive robe “zarchapan”, and for women - "kamzul". Well, what about without a headdress? People buy skullcaps here. By the way, they come in a wide variety: from quite modest to very expensive, embroidered with silk threads.

Excellent carpets are also sold in the bazaars of Khiva. They are made of natural silk, decorated with patterns. Such carpets will last for a very long time.

An excellent Uzbek gift would be one of the traditional musical instruments: dombra, kobuz, dutar, karnay, surnay and many others. Their sound is very rich and beautiful, and their appearance is even better than their sound. They are decorated with elegant patterns and skillful carvings.

Transport

You can get from Khiva to any other city in Uzbekistan by bus or minibus. Travel on them is inexpensive, while the interval between flights is minimal.

You can also get here by train. It is worth noting that this is more convenient in the summer, because bus drivers often save on air conditioning. Branded express and commuter trains run from Khiva.

Not far from Khiva, in the city of Urgench, there is an airport from which flights are available to many big cities countries. You can get to Urgench on a unique intercity trolleybus.

Works in the city public transport: buses and minibuses. In addition, you can use taxi services.

But there will be problems with car rental: there are simply no car rental companies here.

Connection

Russian cellular operators offer roaming in Uzbekistan. The cheapest is from MTS.

Mobile networks in Uzbekistan are quite well developed. You can connect to one of the local operators. This is very easy to do: you need to come to the operator’s service center with your passport. Pay attention to the communication standard when connecting, since not all operators comply with the GSM format.

You can call from any of the post offices. Paying for a call is simple: you need to buy a special card. They are sold there, at the post office, or in stores.

Wi-fi is available in hotels, cafes and restaurants. In the center of Khiva you can visit an internet cafe.

Safety

The crime situation in Khiva is quite calm. There are quite a lot of policemen on the streets who strictly maintain order.

Tourists often complain about extortion at customs under the threat of confiscation of things or money.

Despite the calm crime situation, walking alone in unfamiliar areas in dark time days is not recommended.

There are many dangerous arthropods in the vicinity of the city, as there are deserts all around.

The water is not suitable for drinking or hygiene. Be sure to process products before consumption, otherwise you risk getting infected. intestinal infections. Fruits and vegetables should be peeled.

Some of the attractions are in very dilapidated condition, so you need to be careful during excursions.

Business climate

Recently, the number of people who want to start a business has increased in Uzbekistan. Seeing this, the government of the country decided to make the conditions for registering their own business as easy as possible.

In 2012, a number of laws were adopted here that improve and simplify small business. Taxes are gradually being reduced.

The Khorezm region, which includes Khiva, is predominantly engaged in agriculture. There are farms here that grow mainly grains. There are also several factories of different types here. Tourism and the service sector make a very significant contribution to the city’s economy.

Attractive for investment here Agriculture and tourism.

Real estate

The infrastructure here is quite developed. Until 2008, the real estate market experienced growth: demand exceeded supply, prices rose, and a lot of housing was built. However, the global crisis had a negative impact on the real estate market. Nowadays, little housing is being built in Khiva, and prices are falling.

In Khiva, housing is practically not put up for sale. There is little demand for it.

  • The best time to go to Khiva is in April - June or September - October. It is too hot here in July and August.
  • The police in Khiva carefully and strictly enforce order. Always carry your passport with you to avoid unpleasant situations.
  • Take care of sunscreen and mosquito repellents.
  • In cafes and restaurants, it is customary to tip if it is not included in the bill. Usually they make up 5-10% of the total amount.
  • You will have to pay extra for photographing architectural monuments.
  • Credit cards and traveler's checks are accepted in Khiva, but there are often problems when exchanging currency: banks simply do not always have enough cash.
  • To import potent medications at the border, you will need to present a doctor's prescription. Jewelry must be declared at customs. The import and export of currency is not limited, but a declaration is also required.

 

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