Khiva - Polvon Qori Madrasah

The Polvon Qori Madrasah was built in Khiva in 1905 of the twentieth century. It is located at the intersection of Polvon Qori and Karieva streets. It was built by a rich merchant from Khiva, Polvon Qori, one of the confidants of Muhammad Rahim-khan II.

He played a significant role in establishing trade relations with Russia, Bukhara and Turkey. Polvon Qori decided to build this complex with the profits from trade. The madrasa consists of 17 hujrasas, summer and winter mosques and a high minaret.

The decorative elements are concentrated only on the main façade. The upper part of the portal is patterned with green tiles, while the corner towers have small green domes.

The Polvon Qori Minaret is located in the eastern part of Dishan-Kala in Khiva, next to the Seyid Biya complex, which includes a mosque, a minaret and a two-storey madrasah. The structure is interesting mainly because it is strikingly different from the traditional type of minarets of Khiva and is much narrower at the top.

According to ancient legend, the city of Khiva was built around a well dug by one of the descendants of the biblical Noah. According to legend, the water in this well was particularly pure and delicious. It still stands in the city and is one of the monuments of antiquity. Khiva was founded more than 2.5 centuries ago, after which it became one of the richest and most prosperous settlements of Khorezm. At the beginning of its development, the city was succeeded by various ruling dynasties, it was repeatedly conquered by warlike tribes, and at the beginning of the XIII century, the troops of Genghis Khan destroyed almost the entire city.