Kalta Minor

Kalta Minor is an unfinished minaret in the historic Ichan-Kala quarter of Khiva in Uzbekistan’s Khorazm Region, notable for its squat, truncated form and dense covering of glazed turquoise tiles. The minaret was intended as a tall mosque tower but construction stopped in the mid-19th century.

Construction began under the rule of the local khan in the mid-19th century and work ceased on the structure after the patron’s death, leaving it far shorter than originally planned. Its unusually wide and richly tiled exterior distinguishes it from typical tapering minarets and makes it visually prominent within the walled city.

The minaret stands within Ichan-Kala, the fortified inner town of Khiva, and is approached from the central squares and narrow streets of the old city; it is a short walk from other monuments and the main visitor routes through the citadel.

• Setting and appearance: Situated within the inner walled city of Ichan-Kala in Khiva, its truncated profile and glazed tilework make it one of the most photographed landmarks in the old town.