Inside Khiva's Harem: Music and Dance

During our visit to the old harem in the Tosh Hovli Palace in Khiva, we came across a remarkable moment: a group of local women performing traditional music and dance. They wore colorful ikat robes with beautiful headdresses and shawls. They brought the quiet courtyard to life with songs, laughter, and movement.

The palace, built in the 1830s by Allakuli Khan, was used as the home of Khiva's ruler. The harem was the most private part of the palace, where the Khan's wives, concubines, and female staff lived. Each of his four official wives had her own decorated room, all built around a central courtyard like the one in this photo.
The harem's design includes detailed tilework, painted ceilings, and finely carved wooden pillars, showing the skill of the local builders and artists. 

Today, this space is no longer private but open to visitors. It's a place where history is kept alive through music, dance, and culture.