A place of pilgrimage of Khoja Pista Bobo in Uzbekistan district of Fergana region is considered one of the sacred places.

This sacred place, located on 60 hectares in the village of Nursukh, has a long history.

The legendary 1200-year-old pistachio tree grows here, which grows two types of fruit every year. There are various legends about this wonderful tree. Three brothers, who made a great contribution to the development of the religion of Islam, somehow left Mecca and Medina. They had sticks made from pistachio and walnut trees. After a long journey, they stopped in this area. Deciding to rest, the brothers stuck their sticks into the dry earth, and pistachio and walnut trees grew out of them, having one trunk.

The leaves of the pistachio tree, elongated and flat, are more like hazel leaves, the height of the shrubs is 2-3 meters, but they have grown in breadth. And, most surprisingly, the roots of the tree go to a depth of 10-15 meters. It receives moisture mainly in a natural way – from rainwater and underground sources. The tree, which is the pearl of the flora of Fergana region, is considered the only one in its subspecies. The same ancient barberry tree grows next to it.

The mausoleum of Khoja Pista Bobo and the legendary pistachio tree attracts both local pilgrims and from other regions of the country. It is crowded here all year round. There are especially many pilgrims at the time of pistachio flowering. Three well-known saints found eternal rest here – Khoja Khasan Nuri, Hazrat Said Kamol-ota and Sultan Pesh bobo.

The pistachio tree is under the protection of Fergana Department for Ecology and Environmental Protection.

M.Sulaymonov, UzA