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.
Khiva in photos
A short visual companion to this entry — photographs of Khiva from our travel archive.
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