Baths of Anush Khan

Khiva, a city that is almost entirely an architectural monument erected in the XVIII – XIX centuries. The biggest attraction of the city is shahristan (from the ancient name of the cities that were located inside the fortress walls), which has been preserved almost untouched in the city walls of Ichan Kala (inner city). The entrance to Shahristan was carried out through the gates of Ichan Kala, one of which, located in the east, is called Palvan Darvaza. Not far from the gate on the street “dash kucha”, which translates as “stone street”, there are baths of Anush Khan, whose history dates back more than 3.5 centuries.

Various legends are associated with the appearance of baths, one of which tells about Abulkazi Khan and his son Anush Khan. Abulkazi Khan, a competent governor, historian, urban planner, had 9 sons and passionately dreamed of having a beautiful daughter. After his wife gave a birth, it turned out that the khan had a son again and his whole family decided to hide this fact from him, fearing the wrath of the ruler. The khan was told that the daughter was born, he named her after his beloved Armenian concubine Anusha and did not see the child for a long time, as the family hid the son in every possible way. Usually successful in his campaigns, Abulkazi Khan was captured by the Emir of Bukhara during the next campaign. All 9 of his sons did not dare to release their father, fearing of the Emir of Bukhara. And only his youngest son, Anusha Khan, being in female attire, gathered an army and went to free his father. The emir of Bukhara grinned at the fact that it was not his sons who came to free his father, but his only daughter, and promised to grant the khan freedom if Anusha could surprise him. What was his surprise when Anusha took off women's dresses and the emir saw a man. The Emir kept his word and released Abulkazi Khan. Upon returning home, Khan stated that he had believed all his life that he had 9 sons, but it turned out that he had an only son, Anusha Khan.

In honor of his son, he built baths near the walls of Ichan Kala. 

Abu'l Muzaffar Muhammad Anusha Khan inherited the throne from his father and was a literate Khiva ruler from the Shibanid dynasty. A wise urban planner built not only baths, but also madrassas, and 2 rivers: Shahabad and Yarmysh.

The architecture of the baths impresses with its technologies, which were far ahead of the time in which they were built. The baths built in the XVIII century are not inferior to modern ones in convenience and efficiency. 

Outside the baths, only their domes are visible, with holes through which light enters the rooms. The baths themselves are a little deeper in order to keep warm. Baths traditionally consist of a vestibule, rooms for clothes and soap rooms. The heating in the baths was underground, for this purpose semi-underground chambers for lower heating were thought out. 

The water supply and drainage system was also well thought out. So, the sewage system went beyond the city walls so that dirty water would not get into the city. The baths were the property of the Ak Mosque, according to which all the funds raised by the bath went to charity or to the needs of the mosque. 

The baths were very popular, as they were located at the entrance to the city, so travelers and merchants were their regulars. 

Anush Khan baths are an example of medieval architecture, which has existed for more than 3.5 centuries and still serves to improve the health of the population.