Ully Hovli

Ulli Hovley (Big Yard) is a reconstructed Turkmen fortress-settlement (founded in the early XVIII century) located in the Urgench district of Khorezm region.
The settlement was built thanks to the wise policy of the Khiva ruler Ulul-Gazi Bahodirkhan, who recruited one of the Turkmen families and gave them fertile lands. In return, they were obliged to guard the caravan routes and participate in the military campaigns of the ruler. The Turkmens were excellent and skillful warriors and justified the khan's trust. But this was not the only thing the Turkmens were famous for. They turned Uly Khovly into a well-maintained territory where they lived with their families, opened craft shops and all kinds of workshops. Carpets, ceramics and fabrics were produced.
Like the vast majority of buildings in Khorezm, the fortress was built of adobe clay and therefore was severely destroyed by rains, frost and winds. During the reconstruction, one of the quarters of the fortress with residential and outbuildings, fortress walls were restored. Today, getting to the fortress, guests can go back several centuries, get acquainted with the life of the Uzbek and Turkmen peoples, visiting Turkmen yurts; see how flour was made at the recreated mill of those centuries; take a ride on horses and camels grown here on the farm and, of course, taste the national cuisine.
There are several expositions on the territory of the complex – ancient photographs, workshops of artisans, a mini-hotel for 20 people has been built, real Turkmen yurts have been installed, and all conditions for tourism have been created.
It also hosts national games, kurash wrestling competitions, performances by artists, folklore shows, and workshops on cooking Uzbek and Turkmen national cuisines.