Khiva - Kurinish khana

The Kurinish-khana in Khiva was begun to be built by Eltazar-Khan under the direction of his chief advisor Yusuf-Mikhtar. It is a separate courtyard surrounded by a common low earthen wall.

One enters it through the single, rather narrow door in the eastern wall and enters the courtyard with a circular brick terrace in the middle, which was intended for the construction of the yurt.

In this yurt, the Khans of Khiva received Turkmen and Karakalpak Sardars and Biys, deliberately adapted to their tastes and nomadic traditions. To the left of the entrance, on the southern side of the courtyard, is a beautiful aiwan on a brick platform supported by two carved pillars.

The walls of Aiwan are entirely lined with painted bricks, with greenish-white flowers on a blue background. Under the ceiling of the Aiwan is a solid volume of poetry in Uzbek.

The ceiling of the aivan was restored in 1934 and redecorated with multi-coloured plant patterns. In the southern wall of the aivan are three exits with carved doors leading into the interior of the reception or throne room.

The narrow throne room extends the entire length of the aivan. In the short western wall from the Kurinish-khana, an alcove was made for the khan to sit, while the rest of the room was for the guests in Khiva.