Khiva - Allakulikhan Caravanserai

The Allakulikhan caravanserai in Khiva and its bazaar ensemble – commercial architecture and economic centre of power

In the vibrant centre of the old town of Khiva, the Ichan Kala, stands a monumental ensemble of caravanserai, covered bazaar and adjoining saray, which is considered a unique testimony to Islamic commercial architecture in Central Asia: the Allakulikhan Caravanserai. Its construction exemplifies the economic prosperity of the Khiva Khanate in the 19th century and impressively documents the clever fusion of urban planning, economic functionality and prestigious architecture. In terms of its spatial organisation, historical significance and cultural depth, this complex is a key work of Khorezm building culture – to this day it is the only completely preserved caravanserai of the former Khiva Khanate.

Historical origins: from city gate to trading centre
The nucleus of this complex was a domed gallery with numerous trading rooms, which was built in 1806 directly at the Palvan Darvaza Gate – one of the main entrances to the walled old town and also the hub of one of the most important inner-city trading axes. This first building laid the foundation for the later Allakulikhan Caravanserai, which owes its name to Khan Allakuli (r. 1825-1842) – one of the most economically and culturally active rulers of the late khanate.

During his reign, Khiva’s trade relations with regional and international markets intensified considerably. In particular, trade links with Bukhara, Safavid and later Kajar Persia and Tsarist Russia experienced a new dynamic. The rapid increase in the turnover of goods and the growing number of merchants travelling through made it necessary to significantly expand the existing infrastructure.

A construction project with a signal effect: Breakthrough through the city wall
Between 1832 and 1833, Allakulikhan had a new, monumental caravanserai built, the spatial dimensions of which exceeded the capacity of the Ichan Qal’a. The construction required a historic intervention: the city wall was breached in the area near the Tash Hauli Palace to create space for the new building – a highly unusual step in the history of Islamic urban architecture. This deliberate intervention in the fortification structure underlines the political will to prioritise economic development over defensive considerations. Both symbolically and practically, space was given to economic expansion.

Architecture and function: medrese type as a trading module
The Allakulikhan caravanserai follows the ground plan of a medrese, whereby its function and design were completely adapted to the needs of transregional trade. The overall rectangular shape extends in a north-south direction and comprises 105 so-called hujras – small cell rooms, each of which was assigned to a specific use. The ground floor was dominated by storage and sales rooms; the upper floor housed simple but functional living quarters for travelling merchants. This two-storey structure enabled a clear separation of goods handling and private use, which made logistical processes much easier.

The centrepiece of the complex is a spacious, rectangular inner courtyard around which the hudschras are grouped in a strictly symmetrical arrangement. The entire complex is accessed via a central, continuous corridor that leads from the main entrance directly into the inner courtyard. This organisation not only follows functional requirements, but also creates an impressive spatial order and an architectural dignity that goes beyond purely functional architecture.

The caravanserai measures 69 by 58 metres – a dimension that underlines its imposing appearance within the dense urban fabric of Ichan Qal’a.

The covered bazaar: domed architecture and market organisation
Directly adjacent to the southern main façade of the caravanserai is an architecturally remarkable covered bazaar, which served as a functional extension of the trading complex. This market area is characterised by a rhythmic arrangement of a total of sixteen domed rooms: Two monumental main domes alternate with fourteen smaller units, all resting on sturdy brick pillars. The domed surfaces are connected by arched passages, which are arranged in a strictly symmetrical sequence. This creates an even, almost sacred spatial rhythm that lends a formal structure to the bustling market.

The dimensions of the bazaar – 46.3 by 42.4 metres – reflect the importance of this place as a central forum for the exchange of goods. Two monumental portals on the east and west sides allow for efficient circulation and link the bazaar with the most important transport routes in the old town. The central area of the bazaar was used in particular for the sale of silk, cotton, spices, ceramics and metal goods.

The saray: a caravanserai centre in the narrower sense
A third gate, located in the northern area of the covered bazaar, leads to a neighbouring complex of buildings known as the saray. This forms a functional and architectural unit with the main caravanserai, but has its own structure. The saray encloses a spacious, rectangular courtyard, which is also surrounded by a wall made of burnt bricks. Along the wall run 105 further hujras, which are orientated in function and size to those of the main caravanserai.

This saray was mainly used by travelling silk merchants, who not only stored their goods here, but also spent the night and made logistical arrangements. The ensemble thus served as an important transhipment centre in the international silk trade and testifies to Khiva’s central role within the trade networks of the Great Silk Road in the 19th century.

Economy meets religion: the Waqf Foundation and the library
The so-called gate hujras, which were located directly at the main entrances to the caravanserai, were of particular importance. These housed the customs offices where trade duties were collected and registered – especially on valuable trade goods such as raw silk and precious metals. The revenue from these customs duties was an important source of income for the city administration and emphasised Khiva’s economic importance in the region.

It is worth noting that the entire complex – including the caravanserai, bazaar and shed – was run as a waqf (religious foundation). The founder, Khan Allakuli, stipulated in his will that the income from rents, storage fees and customs revenue should be donated to the municipal library. The aim of this foundation was to secure the acquisition of manuscripts, the maintenance of the library building and the salaries of the librarians in the long term. An original Waqf document from that time is on display in the Historical Museum of Khiva and provides an authentic insight into the intellectual dimension of this economic centre.

This earmarking combined the everyday commercial life of the merchants with the spiritual and religious life of the city – a concept that is repeatedly encountered in the history of Islamic cities, but was realised here in a particularly sophisticated form.

Symbolic power and historical significance
The Allakulikhan caravanserai with its adjoining bazaar and saray epitomises in a unique way the symbiosis of economy, architecture and cultural policy in late medieval Central Asia. It symbolises a phase of economic consolidation and expansion, intelligent urban planning and a deep rootedness of trade in the spiritual and religious self-image of the Khiva Khanate.

At the same time, it demonstrates the ability of local architecture to change functionally without losing its aesthetic quality. The combination of medrese elements, domed buildings, symmetrical courtyards and monumental portals is an impressive example of the creative adaptation of Islamic building traditions to the requirements of trade.

To this day, this complex remains one of Khiva’s most outstanding buildings – not only as an architectural monument, but also as a living symbol of the city’s former role as a hub for the international exchange of goods along the Great Silk Road.