Polvon Gate

Polvon Gate
General information
Architectural style	Portal-arched style
Address	Itchan Kala, Khiva, Uzbekistan
Coordinates	41°22′38″N 60°21′44″E / 41.37713°N 60.36225°E / 41.37713; 60.36225
Year(s) built	1806
Renovated	1835, 1954–55, 1982–84, 1997
Technical details
Material	Baked bricks, wood, glazed tiles
Size	51.76×17.5 m (corridor)

The Polvon Gate is the eastern gate of the Itchan Kala fortress in Khiva (1806). The people also call it Poshshob (Jallod) Gate or Slave Gate. This gate is the main entrance to Khiva, Uzbekistan.

It was built by seven craftsmen under the supervision of a master builder. A canal that brought water from the Amu Darya river surrounded the fortress wall. The gate had a bridge that could be lifted at night. Polvon Gate's master builder received the same salary as the master builder who worked at the Ark Gate, the gate of the Khiva Khan's palace.^[1] The current appearance of Polvon Gate is the result of several renovations. Previously, the gate protruded slightly outward from the fortress wall. It had a watchtower on top that allowed to observe the outside of the city.
The gate was rebuilt in 1806 under Iltazar Khan from baked bricks. In addition, a long corridor – a vault was also built, which served as a place for trade stalls. The towers on the side of the gate were connected to the city wall. After the construction of the caravanserai and the covered bazaar in 1832–1833, the gate lost its role as a market. In 1835, the Olloqulixon Madrasa was built inside the gate, and its western part was rebuilt. A new bathhouse with two domes and a portal was built in front of it. The inner courtyard was enlarged as a result of the construction of the Olloqulixon Madrasa. It was also called the “Flower Gate” because of its beautiful glazed tiles.
The gate was named after the Khiva poet, who lived in the 13th century, the author of more than three hundred quatrains, and the defender of the city, Pahlavon Mahmud (or Polvon Mahmud). Pahlavon Mahmud was buried in a Mausoleum behind the Juma Mosque.^[2]

The gate is well preserved. The upper portal arch narrows like an arrow to the top, and a blue and dark blue mosaic picture covers the wall. The sign above the entrance door reminds the guests that the gate is over 400 years old and that this architectural monument is under state protection.

There are two minarets on the exit side, which were once covered with blue domes. The carved wooden doors have preserved the craftsmanship of the craftsmen of that era in the form of patterns on their faces.