Fergana Valley is the picturesque heart of Uzbekistan, the birthplace of brave men and ancient legends. On the territory of the valley, many places have been preserved.

You can get to the cities of the Fergana Valley by train. Here, not so long ago, a railway was laid in the direction of Tashkent-Pap, passing through the Kamchik mountain pass. Arriving in the city of Pap, we go to the city of Chust in Namangan region. What do we know about this ancient city? Since ancient times, Chust has been famous for its artisan workshops for making knives. In the heart of the city is the quarter of Suzangars – blacksmiths who make knives considered the heart of Chust. In small forges, hereditary Suzangars manually make pichaks – Uzbek knives. Each of the pichaks has its purpose. Chust knives are incredibly sharp and beautiful. Their blade will serve its owner for a long time and will remain sharp, the National PR centre writes.

The city is also famous for its skullcaps. They resonate quite strongly with any other types of skullcaps. They have unique patterns and ornaments. Masters sew skullcaps by hand, adding unique details to them.

In the city of Chust, you can visit the house-museum of Muhammad Sharif Sufizoda, a prominent Uzbek educator, poet and prose writer.

In the center of the city of Turakurgan, a few kilometers from Namangan, there is a unique madrasah Goibnazar Kozi. The mosque was built in the XIX century by the respected and enlightened judge Gaibnazar Kozi. The famous architect of Fergana Valley, Mullo Kirghiz, participated in the construction of the mosque. There is also a unique memorial complex Iskhokkhon Ibrat. In 2016, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev initiated the construction of a memorial complex named after Iskhokkhon Ibrat, an Uzbek educator and scientist. Iskhokkhon Ibrat was one of the first typographers of Uzbekistan. At the beginning of the XX century, he bought a lithographic machine in Orenburg and opened a printing house “Iskhokia” in his house in Turakurgan district. His printing house worked until the 1960s.

Now the historical architectural building houses a museum. Thanks to the efforts of local activists, a garden was opened here, in the center of which there is a monument to Ishokkhon Ibrat. The complex also includes a terrace in the national style, a printing house, a musical fountain and a specialized boarding school with 400 seats for the study of foreign languages.

In Namangan, there is an interesting monument of the past – the mausoleum of Khoja Amin. According to legends, Amin Khoja, the heir of one of the most famous Tashkent sheikhs of Shaikhantaur, is buried in the mausoleum. The facade and dome of the mausoleum were built around the second half of the XVIII century. To create it, the masters used traditional styles of Central Asian architecture. Fragments from the holy Quran are carved on the pylons and towers of the entrance portal. After some time, the mosque was completed, but, unfortunately, only part of the mosque and part of the mausoleum have survived to this day.

From Namangan, we take a direct route to Andijan. After driving 65 km, we reach the ancient city of Andijan. What do we know about it? The famous descendant of Timur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, was born here. The city, once located on the route of the Great Silk Road, is rich in archaeological sites and historical monuments that are recommended for visiting. Among them is the ancient Babur’s Garden, the architectural complex of Jami, the tomb of Quteyba ibn Muslim and the shrine of Bibi Seshanba.

And our journey continues, then we go in the direction of Andijan-Izbaskan-Pakhtaabad. Izbaskan is an ancient district in Pakhtaabad district of Andijan province. It is known that it was founded in 1926. The ancient shrine of Hovuskhon Ota is located in this area. Also in the Pakhtaabad district, you can visit the unique mosque on the water – the ancient Otakuzi madrasah.

This majestic building is 115 years old. The uniqueness of this madrasah is that it is practically located on the water, under the walls of the building there is a canal. The madrasah is named after the local ruler Khoja Ota-Kuzi or Kuzibay-ota. Kuzibay ota was a wealthy man, and at the same time considered the enlightenment one of the components of the foundations of Islam. Kuzibay-ota decided to build a large spiritual institution at his own expense.

UzA