KHIVA: A CONSERVED HERITAGE WITHIN THE SANDS - Tourism in Central Asia: Cultural Potential and Challenges - page 114

named “Hayyam of Khorezm” and was said to be an unbeatable wrestler
and has grown to be a legend with his healing powers. This tomb defined
by Vambery who traveled to Khiva as a “four hundred year old structure”
is comprised of parts constructed in different periods (Gombos, 1976). Its
current plan was arranged in 1816 by Mohammed Rakhim Khan (1806-
1825). Pakhlavan Mahmoud, who at the same time was doing furriery, is
known as a poet and philosopher in Khorezm and India, and as the “pro-
tector of Khiva” in Khiva (Mankovskaya, 1976). Another important thing
about this site is that it houses the graves of important Khiva khans such
as Abu Al-Gazi Khan, Anush Khan, Mohammed Rakhim Khan, Allah
Kuli Han, and the tomb of the mother of the last Khiva khan, Isfendiyar
Han. In the mausoleum complex, besides the tomb rooms, there exists an
open summer mosque and a tekke (dervish lodge) (Macleod and Mayhew,
2004). In the adjacent cemetery, besides the stone sarcophagus shaped
mud and brick tombs unique to Turkestan, there also exist small tombs
with domes (Fig. 16).
The mausoleum has a turquoise-blue tiled dome visible from all around
Ichan Kala, and again has a blue tile decorated facade. The inner side is
famous for its blue-white, indigo and violet tiles with plant decorations
covering all walls and also having Pakhlavan Mahmoud rubai s on (Esin,
1997).
FIGURE 16 Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum and tombs around (flickr.com, Photo by
dalbera / CC BY 2.0).
Retrieved November 15, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/5596932909/in/
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