Nurillaboy Palace

The palace complex was built from 1893 to 1904 on behalf of the Khiva khan Mohammed Rahim Khan II for his son, Prince Asfandiyar Khan, in the northwestern part of Ichan-Kala . After the death of his father, in 1912, Asfandiyar Khan builds a separate building inside the complex to receive foreign guests. ^[one]

In 2017, on the instructions of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and according to the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, “On the reconstruction and restoration of the historical Nurillaboy complex in the Khorezm region,” the restoration and reconstruction of the palace complex was planned ^[2] , during which additional buildings were built and buildings included in the historical complex.

The palace with its exceptional style and extravagant ornament differs from other khan residences in Khiva.

The palace housed several ceremonial halls of various shapes, and among them - the throne room, decorated in the style of Russian Art Nouveau. Many design elements of the palace were ordered by Asfandiyar Khan at the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg ^[3] .

The building mixes European and Eastern architecture; all seven rooms that have been preserved are decorated differently. Among the exhibits are colorful Russian-style tiled stoves, huge mirrors, oriental multi-colored wooden ceilings decorated with geometric and floral patterns. The high doors and windows of the palace were made by German carpenters from the Mennonite religious community. Representatives of the Mennonite community lived on Khan's territory in Okmachit village, the present Yangiarik district ) ^[1] .