The Madrasah is located in the western part of Ichan-Kala. Muhammad Amin-Khan Madrasah is the largest two-storey madrasah not only in Khiva but also in comparison to other buildings in the Middle Asia. In addition to being an important spiritual school was possessing substantial vaquf property and income, it also housed the registry office of the Highest Muslim Court. The architecture of the Madrasah is quite remarkable: here, for the first time in Khiva, comfortable two-room residential hujras were built on the ground floor, as well as loggias in hijras facing the outer facades on the first floor. The madrasah facades are decorated with glazed tiles. Presently it houses a hotel, tourist agency, exchange office, air ticket office and cafe.
Guyok Minaret (Green Minaret)
Kuk minaret is located opposite the main façade of Muhammad Aminkhan Madrasah. According to Khiva’s historian Munis, the construction was not finished because of the Khan’s death in 1855. The minaret was to become the grandest in the whole Muslim East, so tall that “one could see Bukhara from it.” The minaret diameter rapidly reduces with height which makes it ever more steady; it was planned to be 70 till 80 meters high. According to the legend, the Emir of Bukhara, when he learned about the construction of a unique minaret in Khiva, decided to built a similar one in Bukhara and made an agreement with the craftsman that he will do it after completing his current job. Khiva’s Khan learned about it and gave an order to kill the craftsman immediately after the construction was finished. The craftsman picked up this news and fled leaving the minaret unfinished. The minaret is unique both due to its size and unusual décor. The minaret surface is completely covered with glazed tiles. Dimensions: 29 meters, foundation diameter: 14.2 meters.
Muhammad Aminkhan Madrassah (1855)
Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah (1855)
The Madrasah is located in the western part of Ichan-Kala. Muhammad Amin-Khan Madrasah is the largest two-storey madrasah not only in Khiva but also in comparison to other buildings in the Middle Asia. In addition to being an important spiritual school was possessing substantial vaquf property and income, it also housed the registry office of the Highest Muslim Court. The architecture of the Madrasah is quite remarkable: here, for the first time in Khiva, comfortable two-room residential hujras were built on the ground floor, as well as loggias in hijras facing the outer facades on the first floor. The madrasah facades are decorated with glazed tiles. Presently it houses a hotel, tourist agency, exchange office, air ticket office and cafe.
Guyok Minaret (Green Minaret)
Kuk minaret is located opposite the main façade of Muhammad Aminkhan Madrasah. According to Khiva’s historian Munis, the construction was not finished because of the Khan’s death in 1855. The minaret was to become the grandest in the whole Muslim East, so tall that “one could see Bukhara from it.” The minaret diameter rapidly reduces with height which makes it ever more steady; it was planned to be 70 till 80 meters high. According to the legend, the Emir of Bukhara, when he learned about the construction of a unique minaret in Khiva, decided to built a similar one in Bukhara and made an agreement with the craftsman that he will do it after completing his current job. Khiva’s Khan learned about it and gave an order to kill the craftsman immediately after the construction was finished. The craftsman picked up this news and fled leaving the minaret unfinished. The minaret is unique both due to its size and unusual décor. The minaret surface is completely covered with glazed tiles. Dimensions: 29 meters, foundation diameter: 14.2 meters.