Orient Star Khiva

An authentic Uzbek experiences awaits at the Orient Star Khiva. Experience a beautiful piece of history in the heart of Khiva.

Property Details

The historic Orient Star Khiva was once a 19th-century madrasah—a religious school—named Moukhammed Amin Khan. This was the biggest in Khiva where some 250 students studied. At a time when air conditioning didn’t exist, the building was designed and constructed to keep cool in the hot weather.

Any history addict will greatly appreciate a stay at the Orient Star Khiva. Your first encounter with the property will be through a grand archway bedecked with curving patterns and calligraphy. Every little nook has a thumbprint from the past.

Enter a thick wooden door to your room—a small, but cozy space lined with brick walls. A traditional rug sits below your bed and soft lighting adds a warm glow. The madrasah’s students once stayed in these very rooms. Each one is outfitted with a private en suite bathroom, and all are spread around a central courtyard. Sit outside counting the numerous arches and tiles. A few trees interspersed throughout offer shade on a bright day. Some of the rooms look out to the garden from a small balcony, while others face the city.

Just behing Orient Star Khiva you’ll find the thick, rounded Kalta-minor Minaret blanketed in a spellbinding array of rows of turquoise, white, and deep blue. Khiva’s skyline is punctuated by tapered minarets, rounded roofs, and the brightest blues you have ever seen.

In concert with Khiva’s colorful marvels, the dining hall is a piece of art. Soaring patterned ceilings are held up by columns carved with swirling designs. Crystal chandeliers hang up high. Arches are reminiscent of the many mosques around town, lined with blue and white tiles.

The well-positioned hotel is within walking distance to Khiva’s magic. Local tea houses serve a warm cup in dainty china decorated with the blue and white patterns typical throughout Uzbekistan. Brightly woven rugs hang on brick walls. Could these be the same ones that helped Aladdin take flight in Scheherazade’s One Thousand and One Nights tales?