Ferghana valley

Ferghana valley

Ferghana

Ferghana (ancient Skobelev) is administrative economic and cultural center of Ferghana region since 1938. "Ferghana" before the XIII century, was called in Sogdian language "Parghana", "Praghana", in Sanskrit language had a meaning "small region" in Persian "the valley between the mountains", and "confined valley". The altitude is 580 meters above sea level. The population is 230 000. Ferghana region has 3 cities important with its touristic, historical and cultural value: Kokand, Marghilan, Rishtan.

Kokand

According to the historians the city is more than 2000 years old, but the first information about the city appeared at the X century. There are various versions about the etymology of the city. For example, Istakhri and Ibn Haukali remind in their books the name "Havoqand" which means- "beautiful", "agreeable" or "wind city". During next centuries the term Kokand (the city on the hill) was used. At the beginning of XVIII century, this city became a beautiful capital of Kokand khanate till the second half of the XIX century; it was a gold period of Kokand.

The population is 215 000. It is the second largest city in Ferghana region after Ferghana city.

Khudoyarkhan Palace

The last khan of Kokand Khudoyarkahn began the construction of his palace in 1865. According to historical sources in the place of Khudoyarkhan Palace there was built by Amir Umarkhan and called Zarrinsaroy “Golden Palace” was destroyed in 1842 by the governor of Bukhara who conquered Kokand Amir Nasrullakhan famous in Occidental sources under the name “butcher” or “Nero of Orient”. This building had a territory of 8 hectares and had four parts: External palace, internal palace, middle palace and a garden. Nowadays we can see only “internal palace” the most important part of the palace.

Jome mosque

The construction of mosque began at the beginning of the XIX th century by the order of Alimkhan, but it was stopped because of interposal of Sufi Naqshbandi Sheikh Mohammed Okhund. He told to the governor that this mosque was being built for money taken from imposed taxes to the people. Later when a brother of Alimkhan, Umarkhan came to the throne he restarted the construction in 1816 for the budget came from vakf (the territory given to madrassahs and mosques) areas. The mosque is consists of big aiwan (the length is 97,5 m, the width is 22,5 m.) and khanaga. The ceiling of aiwan is divided into 114 parts coinciding to the number of suras in Koran. It is supported with 98 pillars, with a minaret- it coincides t the number of Allah`s names.

Dakhmai Shokhon

Dakhmai Shokhon is mausoleum of Kokand governors from the end of XVIII c. The governors ruled before the construction of this memorial complex are buried in Kadamjoy. The word dakhma from the expression “Dokhili Mozor” means (a building typical to the tomb). The complex was built by Umarkhan for Norbutabiykhan, but Umarkkhan couldn`t finish when he was alive, so his work was continued by his son Madalikhan. The architects usta Mohammed Kozi and Mohammed Najjor finished the construction in 1824. The complex consists of darvazakhana, mosque and khilkhona (place of tombs). Darvazakhana is the most beautiful part of this ensemble covered with tiles representing typical Ferghana pepper style.

Norbutabiy madrassah

During the reign of khan Norbutabiy (1766-1798) Kokand Khanate became larger and Norbutabiy decided to build in Kokand a madrassah which could have concurrence with Samarkand and Bukhara madrassahs. For this purpose he invited the architects Usta Kosim and Mohammed Solikh from Bukhara. The madrassah was built in 1798. It functioned till 1924 and during Soviet period it was used as a casern by a Red army.

Dakhmai Modarikhon

This is a complex with mausoleums for women representatives of dynasty ming ruled in Kokand. This mausoleum was built for the honor of Zukhro Oyim, she was a beloved wife of Norbutabiy. The complex was built by the order of a great Uzbek poetess Mokhlaroyim in 1825. During Soviet period this mausoleum was destroyed, only khanaga survived. There are tombs of other Kokand princess Oyposhsho Oyim, Nurjakhon, Hokim, Oftob, Khonzada Oyim.

Mohammed Aminkhan madrassah

Kashgar region in western China was a territory of Kokand khanate, the khans controlled there commercial relations. They sent to Kashgar noble persons who had to control trade relations, taxes and rights of Kokand traders. Mohammed Aminkhan was such an envoy who worked in Kashgar. When he came back to Kokand, he decided to build a madrassah in a capital. The architect Usta Bozor finished the construction of madrassah in 1837. At the beginning of the XXth century the building was reconstructed by a principal judge Kamol kazi. That`s why later the madrassah received another name Kamol Kazi madrassah. Nowadays there is an office of branch of “Oltin Meros” fond (Golden Heritage) inside of the madrassah.

Marghilan

The city is more than 2 000 years. The first information about the city appeared in sources of X century. Before the name of the city was Marghinon from the words "Murg' and non"(Han and bread) related to the period of Alexander the Great`s invasion. Later it became Marghilan which means “lawn”. Marghilan is a native land for the most famous scientist of law ( fikh) of the Islamic world who wrote the main program in jurisprudence "Al-Hidaya," whose name was Burhanuddin Marghinoniy. The city is the most important silk production center. The altitude is 475 meters above sea level. The population is 185 000.

“Yodgorlik” silk factory

Marghilan is a main silk producing center, in a factory called Yodgorlik the travelers can observe the process of silk producing from silkworm rearing till coloring silk fabrics. This factory was formed in 1972. The particularity of this factory is that all industry is based on handmade work. They produce 6000 m of silk per year. Local silk fabric produced there is called (khan atlas) royal silk.

Rishtan

The city's name was formed from the Sogdian words "Rush" - red earth (because of clay hoki surkh having a reddish tone). The name "-mitan" ("-misan") means "residence", "house", "home", so the name Rishtan can be translated like Red earth house. The city is approximately more than 1 000 years. Before Mongolian invasion the city was important part of Great Silk Road connecting Indian spices to Chinese silk. Rishtan is famous with its ceramic. Since, about X century ceramic art began to develop in this area. Nowadays, there are more than 3,000 ceramic artisans in the city. The population is more than 46 000 inhabitants, the city is mostly populated by tadjiks 34 000. Local ceramic master can demonstrate their work process to the tourists.