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Kyzyl-Kala

A small square fortress of ancient Khorezm near Toprak-Kala, whose thick walls have been partly restored, giving a clear idea of their original form.

ArchaeologyAbout 30 minutes to see

About the place

Kyzyl-Kala, the "red fortress", stands on flat ground a short distance from Toprak-Kala. It is compact and nearly square, with thick walls and the remains of towers along them.

Part of the walls has been restored, so this is one of the easiest places in the region to imagine how a desert fortress of Khorezm looked when it was in use, with smooth faces and narrow arrow slits.

It takes only a short time to walk around, which makes it a natural stop between Toprak-Kala and Ayaz-Kala.

Sources (1)

  1. 1.Wikidata

Nearby

  • Toprak-KalaArchaeology

    3 km away

    Toprak-Kala

    The remains of a walled town and royal palace of ancient Khorezm, with a high citadel rising above a rectangular grid of streets.

  • Akchakhan-KalaArchaeology

    13 km away

    Akchakhan-Kala

    Ruins of an ancient Khorezmian fortress in the desert of Beruniy district, built in the 4th–3rd century BCE and known for its painted ceremonial halls.

  • Sultan Uvays Bobo ShrineMausoleums

    15 km away

    Sultan Uvays Bobo Shrine

    A pilgrimage complex on the slope of the Sultan Uvays hills in Karakalpakstan, about 35 km from Beruniy, with tombs, a holy spring and a fish pool.

  • Ayaz-KalaArchaeology

    22 km away

    Ayaz-Kala

    Three ancient fortresses on and below a desert hill in the Kyzylkum, with a view over a salt lake; a yurt camp nearby offers overnight stays.