Itchan Kala & City Walls

Ichan Qal'a

Khiva's inner town, enclosed by yellow-brown walls and home to more than 50 mosques, minarets, madrasas and palaces. It is Central Asia's best-preserved Islamic old city.

Itchan Kala is Khiva's inner town, said to have a history stretching back more than 2,000 years, though most of its surviving buildings date from the 17th to 19th centuries, during the Khanate of Khiva. The walls, built from sun-dried mud brick and clay, stretch about 2.2 km and rise 8–10 m. Semicircular watchtowers and crenellations line the top, and there is one gate on each side. The West Gate, Ota Darvoza, is the main entrance and ticket office. The North Gate, the East Gate (Polvon Darvoza, next to the former slave market) and the South Gate (Tosh Darvoza) each have their own character. In 1990, Itchan Kala became Uzbekistan's first World Heritage Site. The best experience is climbing the wall walk near the North Gate, where you can follow the top of the wall and look down on the many minarets and yellow-brown roofs. At sunset the whole town glows gold. Tips: buy the combined ticket at the West Gate. It covers most sights in the inner town and is valid for 2 days. Visit before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. for fewer crowds and free rein to wander the alleys. The town is about 1.5 km from Khiva railway station and is best explored on foot. Note: some sections of the wall have no railings, so take care. In summer, avoid the midday heat between 12:00 and 16:00.

Itchan Kala & City Walls

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