It stands at the west entrance to the old city of Khiva. During its construction, in the middle of the 19C, this madrasa (school) was one of the largest in Central Asia, with its 125 cells distributed over two floors around a vast square courtyard. The inner and outer façades of the portal are richly decorated with blue majolica. Converted into a political prison by the Soviets, it how houses a charming hotel.