Pahlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum — Attraction in Khiva

Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum.

The Persian-style Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum is a stunning architectural masterpiece and the resting place of Khiva’s patron saint, Pahlavan Mahmud.

More than just a mausoleum, this site is a jewel of Khiva’s heritage. Its brilliant turquoise dome, elegant courtyard, and exquisite decorative details make it one of the most beautiful places to visit in the city. The largest dome in Khiva, covered in shining turquoise tiles, dominates the skyline with grace.

Pahlavan Mahmud was a poet, philosopher, legendary wrestler, and a man deeply admired for his compassion and generosity. Known for helping the poor and standing up for the oppressed, he became revered as Khiva’s spiritual protector.

Although he died in the 1320s, the original tomb was modest. In the 18th century, a larger mausoleum was built in his honor after he was canonized. Over time, the site became a popular place of pilgrimage, expanding with the addition of hujras (student cells), khanakas, and mosques. The current structure was rebuilt in 1810.

Inside, his tomb—located to the left of the first chamber—features some of Khiva’s most exquisite tilework on both the sarcophagus and the surrounding walls. Unmarked tombs of several Khivan khans lie east and west of the main building, outside...

Pahlavon Mahmud maqbarasi asosan XIV-asrda kichik go‘rxona shaklida qurilgan bo‘lib unda o‘z davrining katta “Piri” - Pahlavon Mahmud (1247-1326) jasadi ko‘milgan. Pahlavon Mahmud 1247 yilda Xiva shahrida po‘stindo‘z (kosib-hunarmand) oilasida tug‘ilgan. Yoshlik yillarda ota kasbi po‘stindo‘zlik bilan shug‘ullangan, so‘ngra xat-savod chiqarib, buyuk shoir faylasuf darajasiga erishgan. U juda ham zabardast pahlavon bo‘lib 79 yillik hayotida biron marta kuragi erga tegmagan.

Pahlavon Mahmud haqida ko‘plab rivoyatlar saqlanib qolgan. Shulardan biri: Bir zamonlar Xivani o‘rnida suvsiz dasht bo‘lgan. Ko‘hna Urganch vayron qilinganidan so‘ng mo‘g‘ullar istilosidan keyin, uning aholisi har tomonga tarqalib ketgan. Shu jumladan Pahlavon Mahmudning onasi ham homilador holida Xiva atrofiga etib kelib, hozirgi Qiyot qishlog‘ida o‘g‘il tuqqan. Bu bola 15 yoshga etgan mard kurashchi, mashhur pahlavon bo‘lib nom chiqargan. U uzoq mamlakatdagi bir podshoni zo‘r pahlavonlarini enggan. Podsho xivalik pahlavonning kuchiga qoyil qolib unga “Senga nima kerak bo‘lsa so‘ragin” -debdi. Pahlavon Mahmud podshoga: “Menga bir ho‘kizni xomiga (ho‘kiz terisiga) siqqan vatandoshlarimni ozod qilib bering” - deb javob qilibdi. Podsho rozi bo‘libdi va ho‘kiz terisini keltirishni buyuribdi. Pahlavon Mahmud teridan ingichka tasmalar qirqib olgan va ularni bir-biriga ulab uzun kamar (qo‘ra) qilib shunga siqquncha odamlarni olib Xivaga jo‘nagan, u bilan kelgan odamlarni shahar tashqarisidagi Shixlar qishlog‘iga joylashtirgan, hozirgi vaqtgacha qishloq aholisini ko‘pchiligi bu rivoyat haqiqat, inqilobgacha bo‘lgan davrda qishloq aholisi Pahlavon Mahmud maqbarasida xizmatda bo‘lishgan deb aytishadi.

Mazkur afsona Pahlavon Mahmudning naqadar donishmand, buyuk xalqparvar inson bo‘lganini namoyish etadi. Uni zamonasini ilg‘or va hur fikrli faylasuf olimi, katta iste’dod va zakovat egasi, shoirlik mushohadasi jihatidan “Xorazm Xayyomi” deb ham atashgan. Bu bejiz emas albatta. Tadqiqotchi olimlarning fikricha, Pahlavon Mahmud she’rda ham, falsafada ham Umar Xayyomning zakovatli davomchisigina bo‘lib qolmay balki forsiy, turkiy xalqlar adabiyotida ham Xayyomdan so‘ng ruboiy yozishda unga teng keladigan shoir bo‘lgan emas. Hatto Abdurahmon Jomiy, Navoiy, Fuzuliy, Bobur kabi buyuk shoirlar ham o‘z kuchlarini ruboiyda sinab ko‘rsada, bu janr ular ijodida 2-o‘rinda turgan. Falsafiy va badiiy g‘oyalar asriy ruxida rivojlantirilib, Xayyomshunoslikni yuksak...

Many cartouches with religious sayings, Pakhlavan Mahmud verses and names of masters are included in the memorial majolica. The Pakhlavan Mahmud gravestone is unsurpassed with the jeweller's accuracy and the grace of the mosaic of carved slip glaze ceramics. Civil construction was carried out under the guidance of the famous Khivan architect Muhammad Murad. The names of the ceramic masters, who took part in the mausoleum's decoration, are also known - these are usto (teacher) Sufi Muhammad Niyaz and usto Abdulla Dzhin, who defined the Khivan style of the buildings decoration for many decades hence.

The mausoleum has gradually been turned into a majestic construction, with the greatest dome in Khiva, covered with blue glazed tiles with a...