Excursions on walls Ichang-Кала in Khiva.

"Her siege machine, which can
With the blows of the stones of the events turn it into a desert.
Around her moats, which, in its own, greatness
Related to Tiger and Nil and equal to Seihun ”

Rashid ad-din Correspondence.

Trip from Khiva to Aktau.

The wall of Dishan-Kala was put up under the command of the Khan of Khiva Alla Kulik-khan (1825 - 1842). The total length is approximately 6200m, it had 10 gates. Nowadays two of these gates have been saved, Kusha Gate in the north and Kuy (Khozarasp) in the east of the fortress.
Kuli-khan ordered to built a new fortress because of the increasing of the population an in order to strengthen the protection system of the fortress and it was called “Dishan-Kala (Outer fortress)” among the people.
The new fortress was built in a very short time in 35 - 40 days. The size of the walls, the constructive solution of Dishan-Kala  is the same as the Ichan Kala. The height of the walls of Dishan-Kala is 8 - 10 m, the width of the basis is 6 - 10 m, its surroundings were built with mud.
Along the wall, in every 30 m there are round burjs. In the inner part of the fortress there is an aisle for the horses. The width of the way for the horses is 1,5 – 2 m. On the upper parts of the fortress there are places for the soldiers in order to fight.
Around the fortress there are burjs. 4 - 5 meters higher than the fortress  for the soldiers. In case there was an attack to the fortress, the soldiers lighted fires about the attack. The former built 10 gates are the followings: Khozarasp, Pishkanik, Bogishamol, Shixlar, Tozabog, Shohimardon, Doshyoq, Gandimyon, Gadoylar and Urgench.
The walls of the fortress were destroyed by exploding under the command of Russian general Fon Kaufman in 1873. During the reign of the Shuralar the fortress was considered as the shelter and was used only for producing bricks as a raw material.
As the result of the increasing of population the destroyed sights of the fortress were given to the people in order to built houses. Nowadays approximately 1400 – 1600 metres of the fortress were restored in different conditions.
After the independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan large amount of restoration was held on the walls of the fortress. In 2005, with the participation of the embassy of UNESCO in Uzbekistan 80metres of the walls of the fortress was restored.
In 2008 - 2009, the restoration deals were continued and as a result approximately 140 meters of the fortress was reconstructed. According to the command of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the 2ndof February in 2007 number 25 the protection zone of the fortress was marked 30metres. 
According to this command warnings were given to all the temporary and permanent flats.

Authority:
http://visitkhorezm.uz

Photos
Alexander Petrov.