Khiva, UzbekistanAbout this attraction
Kalta Minor is the short, wide minaret that Muhammad Amin Khan began in Itchan Kala, Khiva's walled old city, in the 1850s, next to the Kunya-Ark. It was never finished. Travel sources say he planned a tower of more than 70 meters, and that work stopped when he died in 1855. The surviving tower stands at roughly 26 to 29 meters, depending on the source.
What makes it special is the cladding. It is covered in glazed tiles in blue, turquoise and white, and it is often called the Blue Minaret. Its stubby shape and bright tilework make it the best-known silhouette in Khiva, and it is a favorite spot for photographs, especially in soft morning or evening light.
- Opening hours
- No separate hours found; Itchan Kala monuments are not confirmed to share common hours. Unverified: from guides, read 2026-11-11
- Time to allow
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Good for
- Photographers, History lovers, First-time visitors
Where to pray
Kalta Minor is a historic monument and not a working mosque. Khiva's old town is a living community, so modest dress is appreciated.
Must see
- The glazed tilework in blue
- Turquoise and white
- And the unfinished stump of the tower against the sky
Location
Itchan Kala, next to Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasa, Khiva, Uzbekistan
DirectionsNearby
Within 5 km, nearest first.
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