Pahlavan-Mahmud necropolis
Necropolis of Pahlavan-Mahmud is the cultic center of Ichan-Qala. It formed about the tomb of Khiva's patron Pahlavan-Mahmud (1247-1326). He was a poet and philosopher, wrestler and skinner. It was esteemed as a patron a wrestlers and poets as well as healer through Khiva, Iran and India. Tradition has it that the poet was buried in own workshop. The cemetery had formed about his burial place in the 14th-17th centuries. When Shirgazi-khan built madrassah at the beginning of the 18th century, he oriented into the tomb of Pahlavan-Mahmud.
Early mausoleum of Pahlavan-Mahmud was built in 1810 by Muhammad-Rahim-khan I (1806-1825). The new mausoleum had included the old tomb and khanaka with a high double dome, which silhouette became a symbol of Khiva. A memorial courtyard was set before the entrance. The gates of old cemetery became an entrance portal of Pahlavan-Mahmud Necropolis. In the early 20th century Asfendir-khan (1910-1920) ordered to build two-storied Korikhona in the western sector of the court yard and summer avian mosque in the eastern part. Majolica facing has many cartouches with religious saying, verses by Pahlavan-Mahmud and names of masters.