|
|
|
GOLDEN VALLEY OF FERGANA
Just as Uzbekistan is the heart of Central Asia, the Fergana Valley is the heart of Uzbekistan.  Over seven million people, about a third of the population, live in this blossoming oasis with the most fertile soil and climate in Central Asia. Thats why Fergana valley is called "The Golden Valley".
Dry continental climate, warm summers and mild winters are characteristics of this region. The Region is known for the abundance of sunshine, forest oases, fantastic lines of mountain ridges covered by walnut-trees, cherries and apple trees. There are a lot of beautiful canyons with Tien-Shan spruces and fir-trees. Kokand is one of the most famous cities in Uzbekistan, formerly the capital of the powerful Kokand Khanate which once dominated the whole Fergana Valley. At the late 19c. - early 20c. Kokand was the second biggest city after Tashkent and its population outnumbered all other regional centers.
The Palace of the last Kokand ruler Khudayar Khan is the most significant architectural monument of Kokand. The Khan Palace strikes by its richness and the gorgeous decorations. The ornamentation of the Palace includes mosaics of small blaze bricks, Ghanch carvings, murals and woodcarvings. The Modarikhan Mausoleum, associated with the name of the poetess Nadira, is of interest as well.
This is  a small crypt with two minarets. Fate of Nadira -wife of the Kokand ruler and the poet Umarkhan Amiri - was tragic: she was executed by the order of Nasrullah, the Bukhara Emir.
White Gazgan marble and bronze monument in the memory of the poetess was built not far from the Mausoleum. Fergana, the capital of the Fergana Region, is the biggest industrial city in the Fergana Valley. It was founded more than one hundred years ago by Skobelev, the first military governor, under the name of New Margilan. The exhibits of the local Natural History Museum, created in 1896 as a branch of Russian Geographical Society, are the living history of the city.
As legend says the name of Margilan is linked with the invasion of Alexander the Great to Central Asia in the 4th c. BC. Alexander the Great had passed the way from Khojand to Uzghen and back. During that campaign he visited twice the future Margilan. Local people having known about the Alexanders visit to their town got prepared to that meeting. Due to the fact that Romans like chicken they met Alexander with bread and chicken. After that treating Alexander asked about this meal and was answered: "Murginon" which meant "chicken and bread". From that memorable day the town was named as "Margilan".
The Fergana Region is well known around the world with its Shakhimardan, Chimion, Kizil-Tepa resorts. There are several health and recreation centers for TB patients at the mountain resort of Shakhimardan. At the Chimion balneological resort there are centers for healing the nervous system, intestinal diseases, rheumatism, etc. The Chimion hot springs and mineral waters are famous among the faithfulls as "Holy Springs" and they attract pilgrims from all over the Central Asia. Margilan, one of the biggest cities of the Fergana District, is the center of the famous Uzbek silk, hand weaving, embroidery, wood and Ghanch carving.
Historical and architectural monuments of Fergana Valley:
Palace of Khudoyor Khan, architectural complex (1870), Gishtlik Mosque (1913), Djami mosque and minaret (1809-1812), Mulkabad Mosque (1913), Dahman-Shakhon and Madirakhan, Necropolises (the beginning of the 19th c.), Medresseh of said Ahmad Hadja (the beginning of the 19th c.), Chakar (Sholdirma) Mosque (1911), Mausoleum of Hodja Magiz (18th c.), Djami Complex (19th c.), Mullo Kyrgyz Medresseh (the beginning of 20th c.), Mavlon-Buva Memorial Complex (19th c.), The ancient Settlement Akhsykent (the2nd-lst c. BC).
|
|
|
|
