Khiva - Sha Kalandar Bobo Complex

The Sha-Kalandar Bobo complex consists of a single-storey madrasa and a minaret. The complex was built in the late 19th century at the burial site of Sheikh Sha-Kalandar Bobo in Khiva.

According to legend, Sha-Kalandar Bobo or Sheikh Kalandar Bobo was a Sufi sheikh and came to Khiva in search of the faith along with his two brothers, Dervishes.

Here they stayed, apparently not wanting to part with their beloved city.



The city and its people, whom he taught Sufism, thanked him by building this beautiful complex, the Mausoleum of Sha-Kalandar-Bobo, in his honour here in Khiva. The Sha-Kalandar-Bobo Mausoleum stands in the centre of the cemetery of the same name and is located southwest of the Bikanjan Bika Medrese.

The complex was restored in 1997, has a single-domed portal and a tomb. There was a three-chambered mausoleum from the 16th century with two burial chambers, of which a domed structure with a portal survives.

At the edge of the courtyard of the madrasa are a row of residential hujras, domed halls of the mosque and classrooms. The portal of the main façade of the madrasa has a minaret that is 18 metres high and 6 metres in diameter at the base.

According to ancient legend, the city of Khiva was built around a well dug by one of the descendants of the biblical Noah. According to legend, the water in this well was particularly pure and delicious. It still stands in the city and is one of the monuments of antiquity. Khiva was founded more than 2.5 centuries ago, after which it became one of the richest and most prosperous settlements of Khorezm. At the beginning of its emergence, the city was succeeded by various ruling dynasties, it was repeatedly conquered by warlike tribes, and at the beginning of the XIII century, the troops of Genghis Khan destroyed almost the entire city.