At the start of the 20th century, there were nearly 170 mosques and madrassas in Khiva. Not all survived, but many are still available to visit. Photograph by Ingmar Björn Nolting, National Geographic ...

Khiva’s rich history and perfectly preserved architecture have long been difficult to reach—but no more. See how this UNESCO treasure is opening up to the world. At the start of the 20th century, ...

Once an important oasis welcomed by weary travellers – and equally feared for its reputation for ruthless slave trading – Khiva is undeservedly overshadowed by Bukhara and Samarkand. In the small town ...

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). The rhythmic sound of chisel meeting wood has echoed through Khiva’s streets for centuries. Artisans carefully carve ornate motifs into ...

Though separated by miles of desert and mountains, Yazd and Khiva each offer their own unique glimpses into the past, with architectural wonders that tell stories of resilience, faith, and artistry.

The horizon stretches out for so far and for so long that the sky seems to bend like a stretched bow. Looking west over the city walls of Khiva, it's easy to imagine a guardsman watching out for ...

As part of our visit to Khiva in Uzbekistan, Postcards took a look at one of the ancient city’s beautiful palaces, Tosh Hovli. It’s a labyrinth of rooms and courtyards, including a harem, right in the ...

The destination was Khiva, one of Uzbekistan's most well-preserved ancient cities on the Silk Road. Like Bukhara, Khiva is a Unesco World Heritage Site hosting a wealth of history and culture dating ...

Itchan Kala is the inner town (protected by brick walls some 10 m high) of the old Khiva oasis, which was the last resting-place of caravans before crossing the desert to Iran. Although few very old ...

Welcome to Mid-Afternoon Map, our exclusive members-only newsletter that provides a cartographic perspective on current events, geopolitics, and history from the Caucasus to the Carolinas. Subscribers ...

Legend has it that Khiva was founded by Shem, son of the biblical Noah, which might explain why this walled city in western Uzbekistan is laid out in the shape of an ark. Archaeologists agree that ...