# Tosh-Hovli: the stone palace

> Allakuli Khan's 1830s residential palace inside Ichan Kala, notable for its intricately carved wooden columns and floor-to-ceiling blue tilework.

Tosh-Hovli ("stone yard") was built between 1832 and 1841 for Allakuli Khan. It replaced Kunya Ark as the Khan's primary residence — Kunya Ark was kept for state functions.

Layout: three interconnected courtyards, each with a specific function.
- **Ishrat-Hovli** — the state reception courtyard, with a raised throne iwan facing the guest quarters.
- **Harem-Hovli** — five iwans for the Khan's four wives plus his own private iwan.
- **Arz-Hovli** — the judicial courtyard where petitions were heard.

The **wooden columns** are a signature of Khivan craftsmanship — hand-carved single trunks of local plane and cedar, some with 100+ hours of work per column. The bases sit on decorative marble socles to protect the wood from ground moisture.

The palace has 163 rooms in total. Only about a third are open to visitors; the rest are used by the Khiva municipal offices, which took over the space after 1920.

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Keywords: Tosh-Hovli, Khiva, palace, Allakuli Khan
Updated: 2026-08-15
Category: destinations
URL: https://uzbguidedtours.com/kb/kb-khiva-tosh-hovli