Oh, wonderful Khiva, a city of 25 centuries, famous for its rich history. What kind of tourist does not dream of visiting your land? Your streets have seen merchants carrying Chinese goods to the ancient countries of Europe, great scientists who came to share knowledge and make discoveries, great poets, and theologians of their time. You were one of the most important cities on the Great Silk Road, and your greatness is depicted in the grand buildings in your streets.
Now you, wonderful Khiva, rich past is decorated with the glory of ancient Khorezm. You were one of the largest cities of the Khanate and even the capital during the reign of Timurids.
And your story began with one small well. Two and a half thousand years ago, as says one of the many legends about you, passing on by word of mouth, the legendary biblical Shem, son of Noah, had a dream that prompted him the very next day to lay the foundation of a new city in the middle of the vast desert. But before construction began, Shem dug a well and, taking a sip of the water out of it, exclaimed: a “Khey-vakh!” – which means “What a pleasure!”. This water seemed so tasty to him.
In the VII century, you were first attacked by Arab troops. And in VIII century, your sons met the incredible cruelty of Qutayba ibn Muslim, and you found yourself under Arab oppression.
In the XIII century, the incredible destruction was brought by Genghis Khan.
In the XVI century, you became an independent city, the beauty of Khorezm, and at the very end of the century, you even became its capital.
In the XVIII century, you were captured by the Persian Shah and ruined.
In the XIX century, the Uzbek Kungrat dynasty gave you a new rise, immortalizing it in many of your now famous sights.
At the end of the XIX century, you were conquered by Russian troops and became part of the Turkestan region, and in September 1991, your new history within Uzbekistan began.
Your most famous monument, oh wonderful city, is the legendary inner fortress of Itchan Kala. It is a city inside the city, and every meter of it is a unique and historical monument. It is for this reason that the whole Itchan Kala complex is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The fortress is so densely built up that you can find remarkable historical monuments of architecture just in every street in every building on your.
Not a single Khiva tour is without visiting the legendary Kheivak Well.
You are famous, oh wonderful Khiva, with your minaret of Kalta Minor, which was to become the highest brick minaret in the world, but by the will of fate, remained forever unfinished.
You are not only famous for your sightseeing routes, oh wonderful Khiva. There is your priceless and wonderful cuisine, reviews of which can be heard in any part of the world: green laghman on the dill juice, tukhum-barak which is known to be the food of Khans, thin flatbread, and a unique Khorezmian pilaf on steam.
For centuries, there have been performances with dolls on your streets. And today, travelers flock to you to visit the performances of your puppet theater.
And no one leaves you without souvenirs, oh dear Khiva: beautiful rugs and ceramics, silk scarves, and embroidered bags. One doesn’t know where to look first.
Uzbekistan is a sunny country. Therefore, your summer heat, wonderful Khiva, is often unfamiliar to your foreign guests. The middle and late spring, as well as almost the entire autumn is the best time to have a trip to Khiva, to see you, the treasure of the epochs.
You are always glad to welcome guests on trips to Khiva and the region, and they are craving for you from all over the world. Some come for their private trips by train, some on their group tours come by plane. But there is no airport in Khiva. Most often, wanderers fly to Urgench or Samarkand, and from there, they get to Khiva.
Canaan Travel Agency as one of the most experienced tour operators guarantees you that the tour to Khiva will be an unforgettable decoration of your vacation in Uzbekistan and the prices will be affordable for all your travel package. Group excursions around Khiva will surely be arranged with an experienced guide. The open-air trains to this museum are literally a trip to the distant past, soaked in the fantastic spirit of the East.