Toshhovli Palace — Attraction in Khiva

For rulers of the East, it is usual to build magnificent palaces from ancient times to show the power of the state to live, manage and greet guests. Palaces are a place where khans and their relatives live, and public services. That's why we came to this world without a complete architecture. There are not only one or several hospitals in Khiva. One of them is the famous Tosh Hovli

The best achievements of artisans in architectural ornament and monumental applied art are reflected in the ornament of the walls of the harem. Large round panels in the inner courtyard do not differ so much from decorative embroidery on the walls. Carved wood carving on the columns and on the doors was particularly elegant.

Barnakly, stables and children's rooms are very invisible to the Sergasham Palace. The painted hearth clouded the walls and ceilings of the barn. The wardrobe, which combines the porch of the ladies with residential buildings, is slightly covered with holes in the upper part. To go to the courtyard or courtyard of the yard, it was necessary to go through several half-bedding.

The next building of the palace is the hotel building. Its structure resembles a simple house in a stone courtyard and a view of the Old Ark. In the severe part of the stone courtyard, the Historical Museum was between 1945 and 1983. After the reconstruction began in 1976, the museum "Khorezm Crafting" was opened in the harem. This exposition still works today.

For many years the stone courtyard has been restored. The roof palace and hotel rooms were rebuilt in 2001 and open to tourists. In these yards there is an interior of Devonbegi,...

Tosh Hovli Palace – A Masterpiece of Royal Luxury.

Built in the first half of the 19th century, the Tosh Hovli Palace (meaning “Stone House”) was intended as a luxurious new residence for Allakuli Khan, designed to surpass the older Kuhna Ark in elegance and comfort. Located in the eastern part of Ichan Kala, it is a shining example of Khiva’s domestic palace architecture and refined taste.

The palace complex includes more than 150 rooms arranged around three main courtyards: one for formal receptions, one for the harem, and one for family and private use. Each section reflects a different aspect of royal life, carefully designed for privacy, hierarchy, and ceremony.

What distinguishes Tosh Hovli is its ornate tilework, painted wooden ceilings, and carved pillars, particularly in the harem quarters. The blend of geometric, floral, and calligraphic decoration creates a richly textured environment, balancing formality with comfort. The palace’s elaborate ayvans (open summer halls) are especially admired for their cool elegance and craftsmanship.

Today, Tosh Hovli Palace is open to visitors and serves as both a historical monument and a cultural showcase. Walking through its courtyards, one experiences the graceful lifestyle of Khivan royalty, making it a highlight for those seeking both beauty and history in this...

Toshhovli Palace’s harem was the first stone laid, a complex spun around a modest courtyard with five lodges propped on carved wooden pillars—four for the Khan’s legitimate wives, the largest for himself. Across the sprawling palace of over 150 rooms and nine courtyards, the left housed wives while the right sheltered up to 41 concubines squeezed into smaller chambers. Those fallen from favor found themselves banished to narrow balconies, a grim reminder of shifting power. Each apartment boasted a high summer loggia and a cozy winter room, all wrapped in blue and white maiolica tiles painted by Abdullah Djinn, their wooden ceilings glowing with mustard yellows and crimson reds. Walls told a story in jade-green inlays and swirling geometric patterns, nodding to an ancient Zoroastrian past. The labyrinthine harem hid secret passages and winding courtyards, a woven maze where power, beauty, and betrayal played out beneath ornate carved wood. Here, in the palace’s northern heart, life was a delicate dance of shadow...