Toshhovli Palace

Tosh Hovli Palace – A Masterpiece of Royal Luxury. Built in the first half of the 19th century, the Tosh Hovli Palace (meaning “Stone House”) was intended as a luxurious new residence for Allakuli Khan, designed to surpass the older Kuhna Ark in elegance and comfort. Located in the eastern part of Ichan Kala, it is a shining example of Khiva’s domestic palace architecture and refined taste. The palace complex includes more than 150 rooms arranged around three main courtyards: one for formal receptions, one for the harem, and one for family and private use. Each section reflects a different aspect of royal life, carefully designed for privacy, hierarchy, and ceremony. What distinguishes Tosh Hovli is its ornate tilework, painted wooden ceilings, and carved pillars, particularly in the harem quarters. The blend of geometric, floral, and calligraphic decoration creates a richly textured environment, balancing formality with comfort. The palace’s elaborate ayvans (open summer halls) are especially admired for their cool elegance and craftsmanship. Today, Tosh Hovli Palace is open to visitors and serves as both a historical monument and a cultural showcase. Walking through its courtyards, one experiences the graceful lifestyle of Khivan royalty, making it a highlight for those seeking both beauty and history in this UNESCO-listed city.

The palace was built from 1830 to 1841 for the ruler of the Khiva Khanate, Allah Kuli Bahadur Khan, and includes more than 260 rooms around three courtyards: that of the Harem in the northern part, that of the Ichrat Khaouli (Audience hall), built in 1830–1832, located in the southeast quarter and finally that of the Arz Khaouli (Court of justice), in the southwest quarter (1837–1838).

Toshhovli Palace’s harem was the first stone laid, a complex spun around a modest courtyard with five lodges propped on carved wooden pillars—four for the Khan’s legitimate wives, the largest for himself. Across the sprawling palace of over 150 rooms and nine courtyards, the left housed wives while the right sheltered up to 41 concubines squeezed into smaller chambers. Those fallen from favor found themselves banished to narrow balconies, a grim reminder of shifting power. Each apartment boasted a high summer loggia and a cozy winter room, all wrapped in blue and white maiolica tiles painted by Abdullah Djinn, their wooden ceilings glowing with mustard yellows and crimson reds. Walls told a story in jade-green inlays and swirling geometric patterns, nodding to an ancient Zoroastrian past. The labyrinthine harem hid secret passages and winding courtyards, a woven maze where power, beauty, and betrayal played out beneath ornate carved wood. Here, in the palace’s northern heart, life was a delicate dance of shadow and splendor

I really enjoyed wandering through Tosh-Hovli Palace. The courtyards and rooms each have their own character and the tilework and carved wooden pillars are beautiful. It feels less crowded than some other sights in Khiva so I had time to just sit and take in the details.

This palace doesn't have a separate ticket. It is included in the $20 mega ticket for several sites. So buy that ticket to enjoy visits into several sites inside the old town. Again, there are some sites that should be paid separately, like the tall minaret. This palace is worth it ❤️

Itchan Kala, is like a living museum and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walking through the ancient streets feels like stepping back in time. The city is filled with amazing mosques, madrasahs, and minarets. The walled inner town is like an open-air museum. The Kalta Minor Minaret and the Juma Mosque with its wooden pillars are truly impressive. Khiva was once a major trading post on the Silk Road and served as a residence for the Khans of Khiva. The architecture is incredibly well-preserved and tells stories of its rich past and cultural heritage.

Luxuriousness at its best! Allakuli Khan, the "Building Khan", left many buildings in Khiva. One of his most beautiful buildings is the Tosh Hovli, the "Stone House", a palace he built between 1832 and 1841 as a luxurious alternative to the royal apartments in the Kuhna Ark. The palace has an exuberantly decorated interior: artfully carved wooden pillars, beautifully decorated and painted ceilings and of course the turquoise ceramic tiles so characteristic of Central Asia. An absolute must for anyone visiting Khiva!

In its day this must have been breathtaking - well at least for the rulers but not so much for the slaves and concubines. But nevertheless this The Tosh-Hovli Palace which means “Stone House,” is sumptuous palace constructed by Allakuli Khan between 1832 and 1841. It has a colossal 150 rooms spread across nine courtyards and brilliantly designed to capture any desert breeze. It has all sorts of buildings but the one I thought about the most was the Harem where women lived their lives enclosed basically their whole lives. The story goes that the king or ruler would throw an apple out and whichever concubine caught it would serve the king that night. Cannot vouch for the accuracy but our guide was insistent it was true.