# Tash-Hauli Palace, Khiva > Tash-Hauli (Toshhovli) is Allakuli Khan's 1830s palace by the East Gate of Itchan Kala: a harem, a reception court and a court of justice, all faced in blue-and-white majolica. There's no separate ticket — it's on the Itchan Kala pass, **about 250,000 UZS** (unofficial). It opens daily, roughly 8:00–18:00. Allow an hour, and note the two wings have separate entrances. Web page: https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/tash-hauli-palace - City: [Khiva](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva), Uzbekistan - YesGo score: 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Ticket: Included in the Itchan Kala pass: ≈ 250,000 UZS (150,000 UZS in one July 2026 source); no separate palace ticket - Pass validity: 48 hours per most sources, 24 hours in some - Hours: ≈ 8:00–18:00 - Closed: Open every day - Entrances: Two: the north wing (harem) and the south wing (reception and justice courts), not connected inside - Where to buy: Only at the ticket office outside the West Gate (Ota Darvoza); the palace just checks it - Payment: Visa and Mastercard at the West Gate desk when the terminal works; carry som cash for everything else - Time needed: 45–60 minutes; up to 2 hours with the museum rooms - Coordinates: 41.37837, 60.36133 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **1830–1838** — built for Allakuli Khan; some sources give 1832–1841 (source: Russian Wikipedia: Tash-Hauli Palace; English Wikipedia: Toshhovli Palace; Wander-lush) - **3 courts** — the harem to the north, the Ishrat-Hauli reception court to the south-east and the Arz-Hauli court of justice to the south-west (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Orexca: Tash-Hauli Palace) - **5 iwans** — line the harem courtyard: four for the khan's wives and the grandest one for the khan himself (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Orexca; Turkestan Travel) - **80 × 80 m** — footprint of the whole palace; the harem alone takes an 80 × 42 m strip (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **'Stone courtyard'** — the meaning of the name Tash-Hauli (source: Orexca: Tash-Hauli Palace; English Wikipedia: Toshhovli Palace) - **≈ 8 years** — how long master builder Usto Kalandar Khivagi took to finish it (source: Russian Wikipedia; Turkestan Travel) - **Abdullah** — the tile master nicknamed 'Genius' who decorated every courtyard (source: Russian Wikipedia; Turkestan Travel; English Wikipedia) - **× 2** — the court of justice is twice the size of the reception court (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Turkestan Travel) - **1825–1842** — Allakuli Khan's reign, when Khiva's centre shifted to the East Gate (source: Orexca: Tash-Hauli Palace; Russian Wikipedia) - **No. 543** — the palace is part of the Itchan Kala UNESCO World Heritage Site (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) ## Tash-Hauli tickets: what you pay and where You can't buy a Tash-Hauli ticket on its own — the palace is one of the sights on the Itchan Kala pass. Wander-lush (updated October 2026) puts the pass at **about 250,000 UZS** (Uzbek som) for 48 hours; an Aviasales.uz article from July 2026 gave 150,000 UZS for two days. The museum-reserve publishes no price list online, so treat both as unofficial. The only place to buy the pass is the ticket office outside the West Gate (Ota Darvoza). There's no ticket desk at the palace — staff just check your pass at each of its two doors. If you arrive from Khiva station through the East Gate, walk across the old town to the West Gate first; it's 7–8 minutes each way. **Paying.** The West Gate desk takes foreign Visa and Mastercard when its terminal is working, and there are ATMs right there. Almost everything else inside the walls — stalls, minaret climbs, small cafés — is cash only, so carry som in small notes. Exchange offices change US dollars and euros. > **Don't miss the second entrance** The palace is split in two, and the halves don't connect inside. The harem wing to the north has one door; the reception and justice courts to the south have another. Plenty of visitors see the harem, walk out and assume they've finished. Go round the building to the second door — the same pass gets you in. ## Tash-Hauli opening hours The palace opens every day with no day off, roughly 8:00–18:00 according to Aviasales.uz; Sputnik8 simply says 'during daylight hours'. There's no official schedule online, so these hours are unofficial. Come at opening or late in the afternoon. Tour groups from Urgench fill the harem courtyard from mid-morning, and in summer the stone courts get fiercely hot by noon. Don't turn up in the last half hour — two wings take longer than that. ## What is Tash-Hauli Palace? Tash-Hauli — 'stone courtyard' — was the main residence of Allakuli Khan, who ruled Khiva from 1825 to 1842. Built in the 1830s in the eastern part of [Itchan Kala](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/khiva-itchan-kala), it's a square of roughly 80 by 80 metres wrapped around three courts: the harem, the Ishrat-Hauli reception court and the Arz-Hauli court of justice. From the street it looks like a fort, with blank walls, battlements and little towers. Inside, it's the opposite: tall iwans (open-fronted halls) on slender carved wooden columns, painted ceilings, and walls covered floor to ceiling in blue-and-white majolica by a tile master remembered only as Abdullah 'the Genius'. No other building in Khiva has this much tilework. The palace was part of Allakuli Khan's new quarter by the East Gate (Polvon Darvoza), along with his madrasa, caravanserai and covered bazaar — the moment Khiva's centre moved east from the old [Kunya-Ark](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/kunya-ark) citadel. ## What to see inside - **The harem courtyard** — a long, narrow court with five tall iwans along its south side, each on a carved wooden column. The densest majolica in the palace. - **The khan's iwan** — the fifth and grandest, two storeys high on a single central column. Look up: the ceiling is painted in red-brown and yellow. - **Doors** — carved wooden doors to the iwans, each with its own pattern. - **Ishrat-Hauli** — the square reception court with a round platform where the khan's yurt stood. Envoys were received in its southern iwan. - **Arz-Hauli** — the court of justice, twice the size of the reception court, where the khan heard cases and passed judgement. - **Museum rooms** — side rooms in the north wing hold a display of Khorezm handicrafts. ## The harem: how the khan's household lived The harem was built first and is the reason most people come. A solid corridor separates it from the official courts, and from outside it reads as a fortress of its own — the women's quarters were closed to strangers. Its five iwans line the south side of the courtyard. Four were for the khan's wives — Islamic law allowed no more than four — and the fifth, the most ornate, was the khan's own living room. Each had a room for servants, and two-storey ranges around the court housed relatives and staff. The iwans stand against the south wall and face north, so they stay shaded in summer. You'll hear big numbers about concubines and rooms from guides; sources disagree wildly, so we don't repeat them. ## Is Tash-Hauli worth it, and how long do you need? Yes, if you care about interiors: this is the finest decoration in Khiva, and it costs nothing beyond the pass you already need. Both wings take 45–60 minutes; with the museum rooms and unhurried photos, up to two hours. Short on time and already seen the tiles at Kunya-Ark? Do just the harem — 20–30 minutes. Skip it altogether if you're here for views: there's no rooftop or tower. For a panorama, climb the [Islam Khodja Minaret](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/islam-khodja-minaret) instead. ## How to get to Tash-Hauli Palace 1. Start at the West Gate (Ota Darvoza), where the pass is sold and the ATMs are. 2. Walk east along Itchan Kala's main street, past [Kalta Minor](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/kalta-minor) and the [Juma Mosque](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/khiva-juma-mosque) — about 7–8 minutes. 3. The palace is by the East Gate (Polvon Darvoza), next to Allakuli Khan's madrasa and caravanserai. Find the harem door first, then the second door into the south wing. 4. From Khiva railway station, about 1.5 km east of the old town, it's a 15–20-minute walk to the East Gate — but you still need to buy the pass at the West Gate. 5. From Urgench airport (UGC) or town, take a taxi: about 35 km and 40 minutes. The Urgench–Khiva trolleybus is far cheaper but takes around an hour and a half. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Itchan Kala pass bought at the West Gate and in my pocket - [ ] Som in small notes - [ ] Both entrances on my list: harem and south wing - [ ] Arriving at opening or late afternoon - [ ] Phone charged for the tiles and ceilings - [ ] Water and a hat — the courts have no shade at midday ## Tash-Hauli vs Kunya-Ark vs Nurullabay Palace | | Tash-Hauli | Kunya-Ark | Nurullabay Palace | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Allakuli Khan's palace and harem | The khans' old citadel | The khans' last palace | | Age | 1830s | 17th–19th century | Early 20th century | | Best for | Blue-and-white majolica | Throne hall, summer mosque, sunset tower | Khivan-meets-European style | | Where | By the East Gate | By the West Gate | Outside the Itchan Kala walls | | Entry | Itchan Kala pass | Pass; tower extra | Separate ticket | Only time for one palace? Make it Tash-Hauli — it has the most tilework. Pick Kunya-Ark for the sunset tower, and the [Nurullabay Palace](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/nurullabay-palace) if you're curious about Khiva's final years. ## Khiva's palaces compared Every palace in Khiva rated by YesGo. - [Nurullabay Palace](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/nurullabay-palace) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ≈ 80,000–120,000 UZS - [Tash-Hauli Palace](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/tash-hauli-palace) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Itchan Kala pass ≈ 250,000 UZS - [Kunya-Ark](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/kunya-ark) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ 250,000 UZS pass; tower extra - [Itchan Kala](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/khiva-itchan-kala) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ 250,000 UZS, valid 48 hours - [Toprak-Kala](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/toprak-kala) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ 10,000–20,000 UZS, cash ## West to east across Itchan Kala Start at the West Gate with Kalta Minor and Kunya-Ark, cross to the Juma Mosque and finish at Tash-Hauli by the East Gate. YesGo fits in the timing and walks. 1. [Kalta Minor](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/kalta-minor) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free, outside view 2. [Kunya-Ark](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/kunya-ark) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ 250,000 UZS pass; tower extra 3. [Juma Mosque](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/khiva-juma-mosque) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Itchan Kala ticket, ≈ 250,000 UZS 4. [Tash-Hauli Palace](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/khiva/tash-hauli-palace) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Itchan Kala pass ≈ 250,000 UZS ## Good to know You'll see the name as Tash Hauli, Tash-Khauli, Tosh-Hovli or Toshhovli — all the same palace. Don't confuse it with Tosh Darvoza, Itchan Kala's south gate: 'tosh' simply means 'stone'. ## Tips - Do the harem first — it's the showpiece, and at opening the courtyard is still empty. - Look up in the iwans: the painted ceilings are as good as the tiles and most people miss them. - For the classic shot, stand by the north wall of the harem court and fit all five iwans in the frame. - Allakuli Khan's madrasa and caravanserai are across the lane — see them while you're at the East Gate. - A guide helps here: without the stories, the three courts can blur into one. - In summer, come first thing — the stone courts trap the heat by midday. ## Questions ### How much is the Tash-Hauli Palace ticket? There's no separate ticket — it's included in the Itchan Kala pass, about 250,000 UZS for 48 hours (unofficial; one July 2026 source gave 150,000 UZS). Buy it at the West Gate. ### What are Tash-Hauli's opening hours? Daily, with no day off, roughly 8:00–18:00. These are unofficial — the museum-reserve doesn't publish a schedule online. ### Is Tash-Hauli Palace worth visiting? Yes, for the interiors: its majolica-covered iwans are the finest decoration in Khiva, and entry is already on the pass. Skip it only if you're after views — there's no tower. ### How long do you need at Tash-Hauli? 45–60 minutes for both wings, up to two hours with the museum rooms. Pressed for time, see just the harem in 20–30 minutes. ### Why does Tash-Hauli have two entrances? The harem wing and the south wing with the reception and justice courts aren't connected inside. After the harem, walk round to the second door; the same pass works. ### What is the harem at Tash-Hauli? The private quarters of Allakuli Khan's family: a courtyard with five tiled iwans — four for his wives and one for the khan — closed off from the official courts by a corridor. ### Where is Tash-Hauli in Khiva? In the east of Itchan Kala, by the East Gate (Polvon Darvoza), next to Allakuli Khan's madrasa and caravanserai — a 7–8-minute walk from the West Gate. ### Can I pay by card at Tash-Hauli? You don't pay at the palace. The pass desk at the West Gate takes Visa and Mastercard when its terminal works; bring som cash for everything else in the old town. ### Who built Tash-Hauli Palace? Allakuli Khan commissioned it; master builder Usto Kalandar Khivagi finished it in about eight years, and the tiles are the work of Abdullah, nicknamed 'the Genius'. ## How we checked We found no official price list or schedule from the Itchan Kala Museum-Reserve (its website didn't return readable text), so price, hours and closing days are marked unofficial. The pass price differs: 250,000 UZS for 48 hours per Wander-lush (October 2026), 150,000 UZS for two days per Aviasales.uz (July 2026); we show the newer figure and mention the other. Hours of 8:00–18:00 are from Aviasales.uz; Sputnik8 only says 'daylight hours'. Construction dates: 1830–1838 per Russian Wikipedia, Aviasales.uz and Turkestan Travel; 1832–1841 per Wander-lush; English Wikipedia gives completion in 1841 — we show both. Room counts range from about 120 to over 260 across sources and the concubine figure comes from a single source, so we leave both out. The two separate entrances are confirmed by Wander-lush and Lonely Planet. Card payment at the desk is from Wander-lush. Dimensions are checked against English and Russian Wikipedia. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Toshhovli Palace - Russian Wikipedia: Tash-Hauli Palace - Wikidata: Q4155900 - Orexca: Tash-Hauli Palace, Khiva — name, location, layout, decoration - Turkestan Travel: Tash Hauli Palace — dates, builders, harem iwans - Wander-lush: '2 Days in Khiva', updated 12.10.2026 — pass, two entrances, ticket office, card payment - Aviasales.uz: 'What to see in Khiva', 29.07.2026 — pass, hours, construction dates, ATMs - Sputnik8: Tash-Hauli Palace — opening pattern, time needed (2025 data) - Lonely Planet: Tash Hauli — two separate entrances, handicrafts display --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.