Khiva is a unique city. The only place similar to it I can
think of is Yazd in Iran, as both are desert cities that have remained
unchanged for centuries, basking in their mud-brick, domed beauty. Yazd very
much still a lived in town, abuzz with families going about their daily
business, and Khiva more of a ‘monument ‘city, lived in in its Northern and
Southern fringes close to the walls, but otherwise very much an open air museum,
rich in majestic palaces, medressas, mosques and palaces built over the last
millenium.
In the 8th century Khiva was a trading post off a
side branch of the Silk Road. In the 16th century it became the
capital of the Khorezm khanate under the reign of the Shaybanids and for the
next 3 centuries a hub of the at the time very active slave commerce. I will
not try to list the sights of the Ichon-Qala (Old Town inner walled city) one
by one, as I would have to produce a list of 50 names. Just enjoy the
photographs, they speak for themselves…
Unfortunately the historical bazaar, caravanserai and hommom
are closed for restoration. I’ll have to return.
We have enjoyed warm weather for most of the journey, until
Khiva… It’s freezing, windy and rainy, so no sunset pictures of this beautiful
city.
At dinner we join some of our B&B co-guests, a German
and an American couple, the latter just having spent 40 days travelling the
Silk Road through China.
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