Khiva is located on the western side of Khorezm region, at 100 meters above sea level.  Kyzyl-kum desert begins nearby to Khiva city.

Khiva is a famous city of Khorezm – the country of ancient civilization. This unique, nearly fully preserved city-monument is situated of the left bank of Amudarya river on the south of the modern Khorezm region of Uzbekistan.

From the beginning of its foundation the history of Khiva was closely connected with the history of the whole Khorezm, which was rich with political, social-economic and cultural events. During its many-century history the city faced many times the periods of rising and falling of the economy and culture, and used to fall victim to foreign conquers. Nevertheless, indigenous population of Khiva and the whole Khorezm sustainably preserved its original cultural and social features.

Unique artistic creations of Khiva architects, talented masters of carving and engraving, jewelry and ceramic, undoubtedly are the direct heritage of many-century creative activity of Khorezm artists being the  evidence of their unsurpassed skill and delicate artistic taste.

Khiva is called a city of thousand domes. Architectural and historical monuments of Khiva have unrepeatable beauty. Their noble appearance, narrow streets in eastern style with turquoise walls of madrasas and mosques, picturesque bazaars with Khorezmian melons that were famous even in middle ages, and cordial Uzbek hospitality create a unique color of eastern city that is Khiva in original.

Internal part of Khiva – Ichan-Kala was recognized by UNESCO as a historical monument of world significance and included into the World Heritage List.

Historical and architectural monuments of Khiva

Mausoleum Uch Avliyo (Three Saints’ mausoleum) was built on the place of former countryside cemetery which was used until the 20th century, burying the lower parts of the building’s walls. Nowadays the mausoleum is situated behind Tash-Khauli Palace.

A big hall is covered with dome on arched sails filled with stalactites cellular that is characterizing the style of Khorezm. The edge niche in the hall is completed with square-star shaped dome called “kolab-kari” – this is the only example of complex dome in Khiva. Due to one of the versions, it was done by specially invited masters from Bukhara.