Kunya Ark Fortress

In the western part of Ichan Kala there is a Kunya Ark Fortress, translated as “Old fortress”. The fortress building in Ichan Kala was planned in 1686—1688 by Arang khan as additional defense of the city.   The defensive arch was built around Kunya Ark in the end of XVIII.  And Kunya Ark became an inner town.  Originally, the fortress contained a khan’s chancellery, an audience room, a harem, winter and summer mosques, a mint, a stable, an armoury, a judicatory, warehouses, workshops and servants’ rooms. All constructions inside the Fortress were built in different centuries. Presently, particular buildings have remained, they are: eastern gates with guard room, Ak-Sheik Bobo’s access tower, audience room, winter and summer Mosques and part of mint.

Audience room and open courtyard were built by Arang Khan in 1686—1688.

The ball room was destroyed during Persian invasion in XVIII. The present room was built in 1804—1806 by Ultuzar khan. Audience room consisted of several rooms and open yard. The Khan’s throne was situated in the southern part of ball room; it was made from wood and decorated with silver slabs with filigree ornament. Presently, khan’s throne is in Moscow museum. There were following rooms near the throne room: khan’s treasure, manuscripts depositary and lounge. The throne room entrance was through the iwan. The iwan deserves a separate description: its walls are covered with blue- white tiles. The carved many colored ceiling is supported by two embossed columns.

There is a round elevation in the middle of the yard, where the yurt was situated. The yurt was used for khan’s guest-nomads reception to create a favorable atmosphere for benefit negotiations.

The harem built during Mukhammed Rakhim khan II was in the northern part of Kunya Ark. The total size of harem was 33х62 meters and yard’s square was 14.5х50 meters.

The mint was erected during the rule of Mukhammed Rakhim khan I (1806-1825). He was a well known reformer of his time. He implemented reforms in field of taxes and brought into service customs.   Near the mint was located summer and winter mosques. These mosques were built during Alla Kuli khan government (1825-1842). The summer mosque posed an iwan (veranda) with two ranges of column painted with blue, green and red colors. Its walls, mihrab and minbar and turrets are covered with majolica tiles decorated with flowers.