THIRD AND LAST TRAIN TO KHIVA


After a last Lyabi breakfast, it's a taxi to Bukhara 1 station for the 5-hour ride to Khiva, as far west as we'll go in Uzbekistan.  I'm afraid the scenery was as dull as ever (better to go by road, by all accounts) 


According to archaeological data, the city was established 1500 years ago, the former Khanate of Khiva. 




Its walled inner city, Itchan Kala, was the country's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.  It's encircled by brick walls, whose foundations are believed to have been laid in the 10th century, although present-day crenellated walls date back to the late 17th century and reach 10m. 


Our family-run hotel-stay picks us up and we're through the walls and into the narrow, winding street of the ancient city.  Our new home for the next three nights is close to the enormous Kalta Monir Minaret (which reminds me of a cooling tower!) - it's in the central city square and was supposed to be attached to a mosque but the Khan died and the succeeding Khan didn't complete it.


A short pre-dinner stroll takes us by Kunia Ark, large Minaret Dzhuma by the Djuma Mosque and around the Orient Star Hotel to bed.






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