Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum and Allakulikhan Madrasah

The Pakhlavan Mahmud mausoleum is located in the cemetery, on the back of the Juma mosque. Pakhlavan Mahmud was the best fur craftsman and was a philosopher and an ardent fighter for freedom and independence and a talented poet. The house and at the same time his workshop became the master's last refuge. Pakhlavan Mahmud, in the opinion of the local population, became a city amulet and talisman. Later, near the place of his burial, a cemetery was formed, where noble and respected townspeople were laid to rest. So, in the nineteenth century, the construction of mausoleums for the remains of the Khorezmshahs began, the bodies of the previously deceased khans were moved to the newly built building. The memorial premises were richly decorated with multi-colored majolica with ornaments typical for Khiva at that time.

Allakulikhan Madrasah is considered one of the largest institutions teaching spiritual sciences in Khiva. It is located between the shopping arcade (tim) and the gates of Ichan-Kala, facing the eastern side. The main facade overlooks the ruins of the Khojamberdibiy mosque. The remains of the mosque were divided into two parts by the portal of the newly rebuilt madrasah, for which it is called among the people-khurdjum (translated as “saddle bag”).
Madrasah, bearing the name of Allakulikhan, can be attributed to the most interesting examples of the architecture of old Khorezm. The monument amazes with its grace and proportionality of forms, one feels the simplicity and scale of the idea, the decoration pleases the eye with the simplicity and sophistication of the majolica decor, both of the portal itself and of the lateral expansion.