Kalta Minor Minaret

Khiva, Khorezm Region, Uzbekistan

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The Kalta Minor Minaret in Khiva, Uzbekistan's Khorezm Region, stands as an iconic unfinished tower begun in 1851 by Khiva Khan Muhammad Amin Khan, who envisioned it as the world's tallest at 45-80 meters to rival Bukhara's minarets and offer views across Central Asia, but construction halted abruptly in 1855 upon the khan's death in battle.

This squat, 26-meter-high structure with a 14.5-meter base diameter features vibrant turquoise and blue glazed tiles in geometric Islamic patterns unique among minarets, earning its name "Kalta Minor" meaning "short minaret" and symbolizing unfulfilled ambition amid legends of architect betrayal or divine intervention.

Positioned before the Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasa in the UNESCO-listed Itchan Kala fortress, it draws visitors for its photogenic stump-like form contrasting Khiva's slender completed minarets, blending architectural marvel with poignant Silk Road history.