Arda Khiva — An Oriental Venice by the Gates of Khiva

A new tourist center — the Arda Khiva tourism complex — has emerged near the legendary Ichan Qala in Khiva. Initiated by the President of Uzbekistan, the complex is already being referred to as the "satellite city of Khiva."
Located near ancient Khiva, this large tourist complex covers 25 hectares and is inspired by the historical style of Ichan Qala.

Arda Khiva means "port city." The name reflects its historical location — in ancient times, the Amu Darya River flowed through this area and, according to legend, reached the Caspian Sea. Today, several large lakes remain in this region, the largest being Lake Ghovuk, which spans 150 hectares.

To recreate the atmosphere of the Great Silk Road, recreational areas, markets, and trade zones have been built around Lake Ghovuk. The complex has already welcomed its first guests and is designed to accommodate up to 3 million tourists annually.

The infrastructure of the complex includes:

• 20 hotels accommodating up to 1,000 guests at a time

• 2 water parks

• An amphitheater with 3,000 seats

• A musical fountain

• 11 handicraft workshops

• The Museum of Ancient Urgench

• 5 cinema and concert halls

• 9 national and international restaurants

• A jewelry center and a shopping gallery with 70 stores

For active leisure lovers, a 2 km-long canal has been constructed for jet skis and gondola-style boats. The complex harmoniously blends traditional oriental decoration with modern design. Buildings and facilities are equipped with a combined heating and cooling system and powered by solar panels.

Visitors enter the complex through ornately carved gates known as Qo‘sha Darvoza, encountering a miniature replica of historic Khiva. The site features models of Kalta Minor and many other iconic architectural landmarks.

All information was obtained from the website www.oz.sputniknews.uz