Kalta Minor Minaret

The Kalta Minor Minaret is a historic, unfinished tower located at the western gate of the Ichan Kala complex in Khiva, Uzbekistan. Construction began in 1852 under Muhammad Amin Khan, who intended it to be the tallest minaret in Central Asia, reaching up to 70–80 meters. Its base diameter is 14.5 meters, but the project was halted at 29 meters following the Khan’s death in 1855. The name “Kalta Minor” means “Short Minaret,” reflecting its incomplete form. Despite its modest height, the minaret is strikingly beautiful, covered entirely in greenish glazed tiles and majolica, and remains one of Khiva’s most iconic landmarks.