Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum
Khiva, Uzbekistan
Islam Khodja Minaret, Khiva
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Photo: Adam Harangozó, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Climb ≈ 100,000 UZS
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Daily, roughly 9:00–18:00, later in summer
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 40 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Climb
- ≈ 100,000 UZS, separate ticket at the door
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Itchan Kala pass
- ≈ 250,000 UZS, about two days; covers the madrasa museum
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Steps
- ≈ 175 (one source says 118)
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Payment
- Cash in som for the climb; the pass desk has a card terminal
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Viewing platform
- ≈ 45 m, windows on all sides
- Getting there
- ≈ 8 min walk from the West Gate, 2 min from the Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum
- Where
- South-east part of Itchan Kala, Khiva
Key facts
≈ 45 mabove ground; 56.6 m including the foundations
4 sourcesi
OrexcaRussian WikipediaTurkestan TravelWikidata1908–1910the minaret and madrasa were built
3 sourcesi
Russian WikipediaOrexcaTurkestan Travel≈ 175 stepsof brick spiral stair to the platform; one source gives 118
2 sourcesi
Uzbekistan.travelSputnik8 (Audley Travel — 118)9.5 macross at the base, tapering towards the top
3 sourcesi
Russian WikipediaOrexcaTurkestan TravelTallestminaret in Khiva; often ranked second in Central Asia after Kutlug-Timur in Kunya-Urgench
2 sourcesi
Russian WikipediaUzbekistan.travelIslam Khodjagrand vizier to Isfandiyar Khan, who also paid for a hospital, post office, telegraph and a secular school
2 sourcesi
Russian WikipediaOrexca1913Islam Khodja was murdered on his way home from the khan’s palace
2 sourcesi
Russian WikipediaSputnik842 cellsin the Islam Khodja Madrasa, the smallest in Khiva
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OrexcaTurkestan TravelAdvantourMuseumof Khorezm applied arts in the madrasa: woodcarving, chased copper, jewellery
2 sourcesi
Sputnik8Turkestan TravelBolta Voisovand Eshmukhammad Khudoyberdiyev — the masters of the tilework
2 sourcesi
Russian WikipediaOrexca1990Itchan Kala became a UNESCO World Heritage Site
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English Wikipedia (Itchan Kala)Turkestan TravelIslam Khodja Minaret ticket price and opening hours
The climb is sold separately — about 100,000 UZS per person at the foot of the minaret. That’s the figure tour operators and recent travel guides give; it isn’t official, as the Itchan Kala museum-reserve doesn’t publish a price list, and older guides quote 30,000–50,000 UZS. Keep your ticket until you’re back down.
The madrasa next door, with its applied arts museum, is covered by the Itchan Kala pass — about 250,000 UZS for foreign visitors, sold at the old-town gates and valid for roughly two days. It’s open daily, roughly 9:00–18:00, with the climb sometimes open later in summer.
Bring cash in som for the climb. The pass desk at the West Gate takes Visa and Mastercard, but its terminal isn’t always working. ATMs and bank exchange desks are by the West Gate and along the main street.
How many steps does the Islam Khodja Minaret have?
About 175 steps of brick spiral stair lead to the platform — the count given by Uzbekistan’s national tourism portal and Sputnik8. Audley Travel says 118. There’s no official count, so we show both.
The climb to about 45 m takes 5–10 minutes at a steady pace, and the way down takes as long — spiral stairs are slower going down than you expect. Keep a hand on the wall and carry only a small bag; a backpack catches on the turns.
Is it worth climbing?
Yes, if it’s your first time in Khiva and steep stairs don’t bother you. This is the highest viewpoint in the old town, and the only place where you see Itchan Kala whole — a ring of walls packed with domes and flat roofs. Go an hour or so before sunset, when the brick turns gold, or early in the morning before the heat and the tour groups.
Skip it if you’re short on energy, it’s over 35°C, or you’ve already been up the Ak-Sheikh-Bobo watchtower in Kunya-Ark or the wall walk at the North Gate — the view there is lower but similar. Then just look at the minaret from the square and spend 15–20 minutes in the madrasa museum.
How to get to the Islam Khodja Minaret
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum is about 2 min away on foot.
- Juma Mosque is about 2 min away on foot.
- Itchan Kala is about 3 min away on foot.
More tips
- From Urgench airport (UGC) or Urgench railway station, take a taxi to Khiva — about 35 km, 40 minutes. The Urgench–Khiva trolleybus is cheaper but takes around 1.5 hours. Trains from Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara also run to Khiva station, 1.5 km east of the old town.
- Enter Itchan Kala through the West Gate (Ota Darvoza) and buy the pass at the ticket office by the gate.
- Walk east along the main street past Kalta Minor and Kunya-Ark to the Juma Mosque.
- Just past the Juma Mosque, turn right (south). The minaret rises above the rooftops — head for it. About 8 minutes on foot from the gate.
- Buy the climb ticket at the minaret door; the museum opens with your pass.
History of the minaret
The minaret and madrasa were built by Islam Khodja, grand vizier of the Khiva Khanate under Isfandiyar Khan and a moderniser: his money gave Khiva a hospital, a pharmacy, a post and telegraph office, its first power station and a secular school. The ensemble was finished in 1910, one of the last big buildings inside Itchan Kala.
The tower served both for the call to prayer and as a lookout over the surrounding country. Islam Khodja didn’t enjoy it long: he was murdered in 1913 on his way home from the khan’s palace. The small madrasa beside it has 42 student cells and now houses a museum of Khorezm applied arts.
The height depends on how you count: about 45 m from the ground to the top, 56.6 m with the foundations — many guides round it to 57 m. Either way it’s the tallest minaret in Khiva, and you can see it from almost anywhere in the old town.
What to see
- Bands of turquoise, blue and white tiles all the way up the shaft — from the ground they read like stripes on a sweater.
- The lantern on top with its stalactite cornice and gilded finial — best seen from the square by the madrasa.
- The view from the platform: domes, flat roofs, Kalta Minor, the walls and towers, and modern Khiva beyond.
- The green dome of the Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum right below you, two minutes away.
- The applied arts museum in the madrasa: carved doors and columns, chased copper, Khorezm jewellery.
- The madrasa courtyard and cells — a quiet place to sit after the climb.
Before you climb: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
Islam Khodja vs Kalta Minor vs Kunya-Ark
| Islam Khodjayou are here | Khiva’s tallest minaret | Yes, separate ticket | All of Itchan Kala | ≈ 175 steep steps | ≈ 40 min with the museum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalta Minor | Unfinished, wide tiled minaret | No | — | — | 10 min outside |
| Kunya-Ark | The khans’ citadel | Yes, the Ak-Sheikh-Bobo watchtower, extra fee | The western old town | A short climb | ≈ 1 h |
Of these three, you can go up Islam Khodja and the Ak-Sheikh-Bobo watchtower in Kunya-Ark; elsewhere in Itchan Kala there’s a wall walk at the North Gate, and the Juma Mosque minaret is only sometimes open. If you’ll climb just once, pick Islam Khodja — it’s higher and you see the whole town.
Khiva’s mosques, madrasas and minarets
Every place of worship in Khiva rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Kalta Minor | 45 | 20 min | Free | 4 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islam Khodja Minaretyou are here | 39 | 40 min | Climb ≈ 100,000 UZS | — |
| Juma Mosque | 39 | 30 min | Itchan Kala ticket, ≈ 250,000 UZS | 3 min walk |
| Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum | 39 | 30 min | ≈ 20,000–30,000 UZS, separate | 3 min walk |
| Itchan Kala | 34 | 3 h | ≈ 250,000 UZS, valid 48 hours | 3 min walk |
The eastern half of Itchan Kala in half a day
Kalta Minor, the Juma Mosque, up the Islam Khodja Minaret and on to the Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and walks.
- Kalta Minor20 min · Free, outside view
- 3 min walk from the previous stopJuma Mosque30 min · Itchan Kala ticket, ≈ 250,000 UZS
- 3 min walk from the previous stopIslam Khodja Minaretyou are here40 min · Climb ≈ 100,000 UZS
- 3 min walk from the previous stopPahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum30 min · ≈ 20,000–30,000 UZS, separate
- 4 min walk from the previous stopTash-Hauli Palace1 h · Itchan Kala pass ≈ 250,000 UZS
5 places · about 3 h 13 min with walks · 13 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- Climb an hour or so before sunset — the best light on the domes, and the heat has eased.
- On summer afternoons the stairwell and platform are stifling; go in the morning or evening.
- Climb first, then cool down in the madrasa museum.
- Pair it with the Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, two minutes’ walk away.
- For a shot of the whole tower, step into the lane by the madrasa where shaft and lantern both fit in the frame.
- Carry small notes — the climb is paid in cash at the door, and exact money is easiest.
Questions
How much does it cost to climb the Islam Khodja Minaret?
About 100,000 UZS per person, paid at the minaret door — an unofficial figure. It isn’t included in the Itchan Kala pass.
How many steps does the Islam Khodja Minaret have?
About 175, according to Uzbekistan’s tourism portal and Sputnik8. Audley Travel says 118; there’s no official count.
How tall is the Islam Khodja Minaret?
About 45 m above ground and 56.6 m including the foundations. It’s the tallest minaret in Khiva.
What are the opening hours?
Daily, roughly 9:00–18:00, sometimes later in summer. Hours are unofficial, so check at the door.
Is the climb included in the Itchan Kala ticket?
No. The pass covers the madrasa museum; the climb is a separate ticket.
Can I pay by card?
Bring cash in som for the climb. The Itchan Kala pass desk at the West Gate has a card terminal, but it isn’t always working.
Is it worth climbing the Islam Khodja Minaret?
Yes, if steep, dark stairs don’t bother you: it’s the only place to see all of Itchan Kala at once. Best an hour before sunset or early morning.
How long do I need?
About 40 minutes: 15–20 for the climb and the view, 15–20 for the madrasa museum.
Where is the Islam Khodja Minaret?
In the south-east of Itchan Kala, next to the Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, about 8 minutes’ walk from the West Gate.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Russian Wikipedia: Islam Khodja Minaret, Islam Khodja; Wikidata Q28122558
- Orexca: Minaret and Madrasa of Islam Khodja, Khiva
- Turkestan Travel: Islam Khoja Minaret; Madrasa Islam Khoja
- Uzbekistan.travel (National PR Centre for tourism): Islam Khoja Minaret
- Sputnik8: Islam Khodja reference page, 2025
- Advantour: Islam Khoja Complex
- Putevka, Tripadvisor, Eurasia Travel, Wander-Lush — pass and climb prices, payment
- Audley Travel — step count (118)
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