Historic Sights of Tashkent

3.1 Madrasah of Mukhammad Aminkhan
The Madrasah of Mukhammad Aminkhan (1851—1855) is situated to the south from Kukhna-Ark, near the city gate - Ata-darvaza. Madrasah in size and scale is the largest theological school, not only in Khorezm, but throughout Central Asia. According to pious endowment document huge amounts were allocated for the maintenance of clergymen - two Mutawalli, five Akhunds, an imam and two servants, barber and 260 students. Madrasah had 125 cells-hujras, located in two floors around a courtyard, several classrooms, halls, a mosque and offices. Each hujra of first floor had a storage room, hujra of the second floor had balconies. Madrasah was built in the period, when building work was on the rise in Khiva. Especially masters in the art of ornamental majolica reached best perfection at that time.
Among the craftsmen-builders there was continued a kind of competition for a better monumental buildings. In the guise of Muhammad Aminkhan Madrasah embodied achievements of the era, the ideals of beauty and perfection, hatched by popular architects. The magnificent portal, two-story arched wings flanked by corner towers-guldasta, rich majolica cladding, particularly intense in the central part, and the unfinished blue minaret Kalta-minar - all this represents a majestic monumental building.
On the portal of the Muhammad Aminkhan Madrasah a laudatory ode states that "this beautiful building will always stand on the gladness of future generations ..." Majestic madrasah and the minaret now, like other monuments of Khiva, are under state protection and will be carefully preserved as the handiwork of folk architects, as a vivid manifestation of the creative genius of the people. At present the building thoroughly reconstructed and improved.
3.2 Madrasah of Allakulikhan
Madrasah of Allakulikhan (1834-1835) was one of the largest theological schools in Khiva. It is located in the space between Tim and the eastern gate, the main facade faces the yard of partially demolished mosque of Hodjamberdibiy (1688). As a result of the intrusion of the new madrasah into the existing building the passage-way to the portal of the madrasah divided the mosque in two, for which the people have nicknamed it "hurdjum", ie "saddlebag". Madrasah of Allakulikhan can be attributed to the best achievements of late medieval architecture of Khorezm. Extensive and slender in proportion monumental building is created in traditional forms and compositions. Majolica decoration of the portal and the lateral wings are elegant and strict at the same time. Majolica ornamental facing of the portal and arched niche reaches the utmost saturation. The portal preserved the initial shape, which is important to establish the architectural form of traditional portals of Khiva.
At present time Museum of History of Medicine by name of Abu Ali Ibn Sina is situated in the building of Allakulikhan madrasah. Khorezm school of architecture was able to create an original and holistic creative direction. Almost every architectural form - whether it be a small detail or ornament, the residential cell, the urban or rural house, especially large architectural objects - imbued with the same artistic style, is typical for handwriting of Khorezm masters of XVIII-XIX centuries. Khiva, the capital of Kungrad dynasty, grew beyond recognition in the early nineteenth century. In a relatively short period in Ichan-kala there were made significant reconstructive work, was built a palace complex Tash Hauli. In place of ramshackle buildings there were built new buildings of palace and religious nature, forming expressive architectural ensembles. The massive construction was begun in the former suburbs.
(1733-1793), a classic of Turkmen poetry, lived and studied here.The words of sincere gratitude sounded in the poems of the poet, devoted to the completion of Shergazi madrasah:
"Three years that any day you shared with me the salt, I'm sorry, I'm going, wonderful Shergazi! You're my refuge was in the winter and spring I'm sorry, I'm going, wonderful Shergazi! I will live and distinguish the enemy and the friend, the truth is now my holy ally; A golden book was open here for me. I'm sorry, I'm going, wonderful Shergazi!"
The history of building madrasah is still alive in people's memory. According to legend, the building was erected by slaves. Khan had promised them freedom after copleting the construction. However, the time of release was deliberately delayed. 
Wrath of the slaves had no mercy: during one of his visits to the construction sites Khan was beheaded. It is no coincidence that the poet and historian Munis defined the date of the madrasah's completion with words "Alas, save from slaves!" ("Dod, az gulomon!") (1139 hijra year (1726)). Despite the significant repairs in the late ХIХ century, the madrasah as a whole was damaged and abandoned before the revolution. Only under the Soviet government laborious work of restorers brought it back to life - the monument was constructively enhanced, the basic forms of it were restored, but from its former splendor and wealth remained only a few traces. The main facade of the madrasah directs too the complex of Pahlavan Mahmud.