Cities were traditionally split into two, isolated one from another as in Khiva: an internal town - Ichan-Kala (the shakhristan), and an external town - Dishan-Kala (the rabad).
The Ak-mosque (the White-mosque) is located in the ensemble near the Ichan-Kala east gate. Its foundation was placed in 1657, during the reign of the Anush-khan.
The Islam Khodzha ensemble, consisting of the smallest madrasah and the highest minaret of Khiva, goes back in form to the ancient minarets of the XI and XII centuries, and is located in the south-eastern part of the Ichan-Kala.