City Guide - Khiva

Khiva reached its heyday in the Middle Ages having become one of the main towns. Located in Khorezm oasis of Kara - kum desert the town became the capital of the Khanate of Khiva 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; 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 Asia's biggest slave trade center. For those who've 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. Mosques, madrassahs, caravanserais, numerous minarets and palaces of former Khorezm lords render a lasting impression. In contrast to others of the Orient, the ancient architectural monuments are not spread out around the city but are concentrated on a small square in the central part of town. Architecture of Khiva is striking due to its simplicity and monumental forms, unique and graceful fretted wooden columns, and the skillful plaiting design that decorates numerous administrative and religious buildings.