About
Khiva is an ancient walled city in the Khorezm Region of Uzbekistan, in Central Asia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is best known for Itchan Kala, the old town enclosed within its walls, whose medieval character has been kept largely intact.
What the visit is like
Walking through Itchan Kala is the heart of a trip to Khiva. The old town gives a clear picture of traditional Central Asian Islamic architecture, with its domes, minarets and courtyards built in the local style. The streets are compact, so a visitor can move from one monument to the next on foot and take in the scale of the place at an unhurried pace.
The town is also known for its traditional crafts, and the workshops and stalls within the old walls are a good way to see them. Many visitors combine a stroll through the lanes with time spent simply looking at the buildings and the way the old town is arranged.
Planning your trip
- Where it is: Khiva lies in the Khorezm Region, in the western part of Uzbekistan.
- What to focus on: the walled old town of Itchan Kala and its architecture and crafts.
- Who it suits: visitors interested in historic cities, heritage sites and traditional Islamic design.
Khiva is also known as Xiva or, in Russian, Хива. Whatever name you use, it is a compact place to explore, and a visit suits a traveller who wants to spend time inside a well-preserved medieval setting.
