Plan: 1 Tours, Attractions and Things To Do in Fergana

My city

Plan:
1 Tours, Attractions and Things To Do in Fergana

2 Names of Fergana over time
3 Ferghana valley

Tours, Attractions and Things To Do in Fergana

The city of Fergana, in the south of the Fergana Valley is one of the youngest cities in Uzbekistan. It was founded in 1876, after Kokand Khanate had been included in the Russian Empire. A new town, named as New Margilan was built at a distance of 12 kilometers from Margilan, and became the center of the Fergana region.
The main building of the new city became a military fortress, which occupied a large area. New streets were laid from it in a semicircle. The huge park was lid out in the city center. The first architectural attractions of the city were the Governor's House (now the building of the drama theater), House of Governor Assistant, the Military Assembly (House of Officers). In 1907 the town was renamed Skobelev, and in 1924 called Ferghana.
A marked increase in the city began only in the twentieth century and especially after the independence of the republic. Ferghana is now an important industrial center in Uzbekistan. Over the past few years in the city there are many modern facilities - luxurious high-rise hotels, a beautiful tennis court, indoor urban market, a stadium, a large park with flower beds and fountains. Symbolically, that among the first constructions built during the independence, in 1992 the city gate was built, called "Gate of Independence." It has the height of 14 meters, 26 meters in length.
In Fergana, there is no ancient architecture and historical monuments, but nevertheless the city is very picturesque and has its own unique look. The main decoration of the city is venerable trees: plane trees, poplars, oaks ... They have turned Ferghana in to the garden city.
Suburbs of Fergana are also known thanks to beautiful places. In the foothills of the Alai Range, abounded in the greenery of gardens and vineyards, the village Chimen lies, known for its healing mineral springs, on the base of which the spa resort "Chimen" was opened. It is the largest health resort in Central Asia.
55 kilometers from Fergana there is a picturesque area of Uzbekistan - Shakhimardan ("Lord of the peoples"). It is the traditional place of recreation for the citizens of Margilan and Fergana.
HISTORY OF FERGANA
More than 2’000 years ago was a settlement called Sim-Tepe in Fergana’s city area. However, it was not an important village. The inhabitants were active in agriculture, cattle breeding and hunting.
In 1875 Tsarist Russian troops marched into the Fergana valley and dissolved the Kokand Khanate. The area was assigned to Russian Turkestan. Since Kokand, the capital of the former Kokand Khanate, was too densely built, the Russians decided to establish a new regional centre. Thus began the city’s construction.
NAMES OF FERGANA OVER TIME
The newly constructed city was called New Margilan, as it is located only 12 km from the historic town Margilan. The town was convenient to control the whole valley administratively and strategically. In 1907, the city was renamed Skobelev in honour of the Russian general Mikhail Skobelev, who led the conquest of the Fergana Valley and later became the region’s first general governor. In 1924, the city received its final name Fergana.
Due to its history, the city was initially being largely populated by ethnic Russians. Since the “Perestroyka” of the Soviet Union in 1991, many Russian-born inhabitants started to leave the city. Today mainly Uzbeks live in the town, but there are still many representatives of other ethnic groups.
Fergana is a very green city, and until a few years ago, it had many trees. Recently, many of them have fallen victim to urban planning, but new seedlings have also been planted.
FAMOUS PERSONALITIES
The famous astronomer, geographer and mathematician Ahmad al-Fergani (Alferganus) was born in the Fergana valley. In his honour, there is a monument in the city of Fergana.

Fergana, or Ferghana, is the capital of Fergana Region in eastern Uzbekistan. Fergana is about 420 km east of Tashkent, about 75 km west of Andijan, and less than 20 km from the Kyrgyzstan border. While the area has been populated for thousands of years, the modern city was founded in 1876.

The northern part of the Fergana region is occupied by the Karakalpak and Yazyavan steppes, and is bounded on the south by a tributary of the Olay ridge. Fergana region is a high seismic zone. The climate is continental, the winters are mild, sometimes very cold. The average temperature in January is 3.2 C, in July – 28 C. The lowest temperature is 27.9 C. The maximum temperature is 42 C. Strong “Kokand wind” blowing in the west of the valley has a negative impact on the climate. In the south-east it blows summer wind. Annual precipitation ranges from 100 mm in the west (around Kokand) to 170 mm in the east, and up to 270 mm on the mountain slopes, mainly in the spring. Vegetation period is 210–240 days. The Syrdarya River flows along the north-western border of the region. Isfara, Sokh, Shohimardon, Isfayramsay start from the Alay ridge. The rivers are saturated with ice and snow. There are mainly gray soils and meadow-swamp soils, mostly hungry and typical gray soils on the hills, alluvial-meadow soils on the terraces of the Syrdarya, sandy and loamy meadows in the northern part of the region.
Fergana region is one of the centers of ancient culture of Uzbekistan. Pictures of Stone Age settlements and rocks found in the area, stone tools indicate that people have lived in the valley since ancient times. Excavation of the Greater Fergana Canal has played an important role in the study of archeological monuments of the region. During the excavation of the canal, monuments of the Bronze Age, slavery and landownership were found and examined. Finds from the 5th century BC and early Middle Ages in the city of Kuva are well researched. Historical sources from the 10th to the 11th centuries state that this city was the largest city in the valley after Akhsikat in terms of prosperity and size. Archaeological materials prove that the city of Margilan was a large village in the 10th century and took on the appearance of a village in the 11th-12th centuries.
The monuments found in the settlements of the Chust culture, which were engaged in sedentary farming and animal husbandry, are important in the study of the Fergana Valley. Archaeological excavations show that Fergana region has long been inhabited by people, engaged in hunting, farming, animal husbandry, and in the later stages of human society, culture began to develop.
Industry
At present, 38 large industrial enterprises, 7930 small industrial enterprises, 446 joint ventures include the Fergana Oil Refinery, the Azot Production Association, the Quvasoy Quartz Joint-Stock Company, the Eurasian TAPO-Disk, Avtooyna, and DEU Textile joint ventures.
They export oil, cotton, food, canned goods, construction materials, car discs, spare parts and agricultural products and other products to foreign countries.
Ferghana valley
For the richness and colorfulness Ferghana valley is called the Pearl of Central Asia. Valley is bordered with the chain of Tyan-Shan and Gossary Alay mountains and opens the gates for the Sirdarya river.
Ferghana valley always had а significant role in the history and culture of Central Asia. According to ancient Chine’s history Ferghana was belonged to Davan which was the most important city at the end of second century and in the middle of the century it was one of the leading nodes to the Movoraunnakr.
In the XI century Margilan was the largest city of Fergana oasis famous for its silk fabrics, which are along the Silk Road merchants exported to Egypt and Greece, Baghdad, Khorasan and Kashgar. And today you can call Margilan the silk capital of Uzbekistan. It produces the famous "khan-atlas", woven and dyed by hand on an old technology.
Rishtan is situated in 50 km far from Ferghana. Rishtan’s people were famous for their pottery products in IX century. Secret of red soil, natural mineral colours and remnants of mountain’s plants which are used in pottery 1100 years till carrying from generation to generation. Masterpieces of Rishtan’s masters which are great plates, deep caps, jars for water, dished for milk described in unforgettable colours and they are decorating a lot of international exhibitions, museums and private collections. Kakhand was one of the main city in Ferghana valley in large period. It was the capital of Kakhand in XVIII-XIX centuries and occupied a lot of part of Uzbekistan and neighborhood countries. Kakhand was also great religious centre. There were 35 madrasa and 110 mosques in its blossom period. Unfortunately most of them were destroyed by earthquakes and by the time of Soviet Union.
In the middle of the century there was a town of Cuba referred to in Arab sources to 10 century, consisting of 3 parts: the citadel, shakhristan (were surrounded by walls with towers and gates) and rabad.
MARGILAN
The first information about the cities of Ferghana region is mentioned in writing monuments in 2-1 century BC. There are 70 big and small towns in Dan-Yuan state in Chinese chronicle. Material remains were founded in excavation, among them were the unique ceramic dishes of high quality, painted with specific colors with the depiction of tender pattern, also the mill made of stone, motor, means for making surma (cosmetic mix) stones for weaver’s instruments, remains of buildings, the signs of being pagan religious. Sure, all these, deserve a great attention, excavations show, that all these products are made by smart masters and craftsman with using of high technology. Writing information about Marghilan belongs to X century.
In "Baburnoma" Zakhiriddin Muhammad Babur also notes that Margilan is one of the 8 cities of Fergana, tells about its modernization, and praises its sweet fruits, the kinds of pomegranate “Donai kalon”, apricot “Subhoniy”.
By local information, the city had 12 gates.
Favourable natural geographic conditions helped Marghilan to become a big city, across which in XI-XII century North and South branches of Great Silk Road went through.
In this period Burhoniy, which created Islamic right, lived and worked.
During the period of Amir Temur and Temur’s rules, Marghilan also considered one of the biggest cities of the Ferghana valley.
Marghilan is famous all the world for its material — atlas, which are made of silk. The population of the city was engaged in sewing since the ancient times and also making national heat.
Sellers moved out different materials to Baghdad, Kashgar. Egypt, Rumania and Iran by the Great Silk Road.
KOKAND
Kokand — a city in Uzbekistan, Ferghana region - the lower reaches of the river Soh, railway is 230.000, citizen 2012 y. Light industry is cotton cleaning, silk industry etc. chemical, food industry metalworking, auto construction (textile, electro technical industry etc.).
Pedagogical institute, theatre, Hamsa’s museum House, literature museum, are known since X century, 1740-1876 y. — capital of Kokand state. Architectural monuments of XVIII-XIX century (Mir medrese 1799 y., “Jomue” — mechet 1816 y., Mauzoleum “Modori Khan” - 1825 y.,“Dahmai Shohon” assemble 1825 y., “Kamol-Kyzi” medrese 1827 y., “Sohibzoda Miyon Xazrat” medrese 1860 y., Hudoyar-khan’s Palace 1873 y.) - are ancient center of national art.
Hudoyar-khan’s Palace
A lot of mosques, madrasah, trade centers and other historical objects were build since XVIII century in the capital of Kokand State. Among them: “Urda”, built by Hudoyar-khan in 1873y. This building is also called Hudoyarkhan’s Palace. The common square of palace is 4 ga, its basement raised to 3 metes. For this reason for entering to the main gates from the east side was build a special road —pandus.
In the upper part of darvozahonait’s written: “The Great Said Muhammad Hudoyar-khan” by Arabic letters. At first the length of the palace was 138 metes, width — 65 metes. The palace consisted of 7 palaces, and 119 rooms. In that time “Urda” was surrounded by inner and outer fence. The fence wasn’t saved by present time, only 2 yards and 19 rooms left. Here the regional study museum is situated
Modori-khan mausoleum
Modori-khan mausoleum was built in 1825 y. for Kokand’s head Umarkhan’s mother. This monument is one of the interesting examples of Muslim architecture.
KUVA
Kuva is the center of Kuva district of Ferghana region of Uzbekistan. There are furniture factory and tinned food factory in Kuva.
In the Middle Ages there was city Kuba, which was mentioned in Arabian sources of the 10 century. It consisted of three parts: citadel, Shahristan (enclosed with towers, walls and gates) and rabad.
The ruins of this city still exist. In 1956-58s during the’ excavations out of the walls the Buddhist temple of the 7-8 was found. There were some Buddha’s statue and other statues of different Gods of Buddhism; on the citadel there were some houses with the examples of housekeeping of the 7-10 centuries.
So far the scientists have not fixed the exact age of Kuva, but according to some findings, they suppose the first settlers appeared in the 4-3 centuries B.C. on the place of the future big city.
Kuva, called Kuba, played a great role during the early Middle ages.
At that time different handicrafts such as potter’s, jeweler’s, processing iron were developed the fragments of monumental statue and the destroyed Buddha’s statue were found in the temple, it says about the penetrating Buddhism into Ferghana. The temple was destroyed by Arabian conquerors when they came to Central Asia.
The scientists consider that the medieval Kuva is the Motherland of the great scientist encyclopedias Ahmad Al Farghoniy.
SHAHIMARDAN
Shahimardan is one of the most beautiful places in Uzbekistan. It is 55 km south of Ferghana city. The town is 15000m above sea level and is situated among the Altay mountain range. Shahimardan is washed by the two rivers on either sides: the Ok-su and the Kok-su, which flow together and form one river — the Shahimardan-Say. It is an interesting fact that on the way from Ferghana to Shahimardan you have to cross Shahimardan River seven times to get to Shahimardan Mountain Region. From 1930 to 1991 the town was known as Xamzaabad, it has been known as mountain resort since 1934. Shahimardan is in a small Uzbek enclave on the territory of Kyrgyzstan, 52 km south of Ferghana City on the northern slope of the Alay Range (1550 m above sea level), the banks of Ak-su and Kok-su Rivers where they flow together, among evergreen tree forests and bushes.
Medium temperature in July- 220C, in January from — 30 to 30C. There is Hamza Hakimzade Niyazi (I889-1929) museum and mausoleum, there is a camp Dugobain the alp mountain region, tourist center and handy craft co-operative (needle-work).
The history of Shahimardan roots with the name of Hazrat-Ali, the fourth Khalif, and Prophet Muhammad’ son-in-law. There is one version that when Hazrat-Ali was in Central Asiahe visited Shahimardan and possibly one out of his seven graves is in Shahimardan settlement, practically it is impossible neither to prove nor deny. In translation from Persian “Shahimardan”, means “People’s Rules” which means the same as the name Hazrat-Ali.
In the 1920th there was Hazrat-Ali mosque and mausoleum, where believers come to pray. But during the Soviet period the mausoleum was ruined and it was reconstructed only in 1993 when Uzbekistan became an independent Republic. Hazrat-Ali Mausoleum was rebuilt on the same place and it has the same form.
RISHTAN
Rishtan is in 50 km to the west from Ferghana, it is administrative centre of the Rishtan district of Ferghana region. From ancient times Rishtan glorified with ceramic products and with the best kinds of apricot.
From the historical sources known that 800 years the man-made from ceramics by talented masters. There are natural minerals, red clay, mountain plants which are important components for the making and decorating colourful ceramic productions of Rishtan. The masters of Rishtan fame for all of the world with their wonderful technology-productions of ceramics by extraordinary nontraditional ways of decoration of made productions. From generation to generation the skilled craftsman handing the secrets of their own mastership. Even nowadays in Rishtan it is possible to see the work of the masters of ceramics in a small workshop with using of ancient technology. Together with it in the town it works the biggest workshop of ceramic productions. The ceramics of Rishtan were presented on numerous international exhibitions and fairs. Rishtan is the oldest centre of ceramics skill of Central Asia.
In this place was worked out the exceptional technology of making ceramic productions which arc used in everyday life, these productions not just for local inhabitants but these are exported beyond the bound of Ferghana valley. Rishlan’s local ceramic differ with its shape, by ornament and colourful gamut. For the painting of Rishtans clay productions it is typical the usage of turquoise, dark-blue and brown colours on the milk-white background. The sourness glaze which made from ashes of plants imparts colourful shining to the clay products.