Kalta Minor

The madrasah and minaret ordered to be built by Muhammad Amin-Khan in 1845-1855 in Khiva was supposed to be one of the grandest architectural ensembles in the Islamic world and to demonstrate the power and might of the Khiva Khanate, which had for centuries had managed to stay independent despite the numerous attempts to conquer it by various Central Asian powers. However, the khan’s dream did not come true. Although Muhammad Amin-Khan Madrasah was completed to become one of the largest in Central Asia - having been admired for over 150 years already - its fame was overshadowed by the unfinished minaret standing next to it.