Palvan-Darvoz Ensemble

Perhaps the busiest place in Khiva is the square located near the eastern gate of Ichan-Kala, which is commonly called Palvan-Darvoza, which means "heroic gate".

There are a large number of historical buildings on this square: Anush Khan baths (the foundation was laid in 1664), one-story buildings of Khojamberdybiya madrasah (1688), Allakuli Khan madrasah (1834-1835), Tim - covered bazaar (1836-1838), Tash-Khauli Palace (1830-1838), caravanserai Allakuli Khan (1832-1833), Kutlug-Murad-inak madrasah (1804-1812). All these structures were built as they began to be needed. As more and more buildings were needed, over time, some of the structures began to protrude beyond the walls of Ichan-Kala. All the buildings located near Palvan Darvoz stand out for their picturesque decor and sophisticated architecture.

The Palvan Darvoz gate itself was built in 1804-1806 and has the shape of an arched portal, at the entrance to which you can read the inscription "Shahri Khiva" ("city of Khiva") and the year of construction - 1806. The construction of the gate was finally completed under Allakuli Khan in 1835. After the entrance arch there is a multi-domed shopping gallery, in merchants' shops are located on both sides of it. Until 1873, there was a slave market at the exit from Ichan-Kala to the right of the Palvan-Darvoz gate, where khan's decrees were read out and criminals were executed. In this regard, the Palvan Darvoz gate was popularly called "Kul darvaza" ("Slave Gate"), "Pashshab darvaza" ("Gate of execution").