Fergana

Fergana is the capital of Uzbekistan's Fergana Region and one of the main cities of the densely populated Fergana Valley, set in the eastern part of the country near the Kyrgyz border. Wide, tree-lined streets, parks and an orderly Russian colonial layout give the city a calm, green character that differs from the ancient Silk Road centres of Samarkand and Bukhara.

Fergana is among the youngest cities in Uzbekistan. It was founded in 1876 as New Margilan after the Kokand Khanate came under Russian control, was renamed Skobelev in 1907 and became Fergana in 1924. Although it has few medieval monuments, its Regional History Museum, Orthodox church, mosques and colonial-era buildings reflect the layered history of the valley.

Central Park, with its monument to the 9th-century astronomer Ahmad al-Fergani, anchors the city centre, while the Central Bazaar and nearby streets offer a lively view of daily life. Fergana is also a practical base for the region's craft towns: Margilan for silk and ikat weaving, Rishtan for blue-and-green ceramics, and Kokand for the Khudoyar Khan Palace.

As an industrial centre, Fergana has long been associated with oil refining, textiles and food processing, and it remains an important regional hub for trade and administration. Its markets, teahouses and restaurants introduce visitors to Fergana Valley cooking, including pilaf made with reddish devzira rice and plenty of seasonal fruit.

For travellers, Fergana combines a relaxed provincial atmosphere with convenient access to the valley's crafts, history and mountain scenery. Business visitors come for the city's role in regional industry and trade, while leisure travellers use it as a gateway to some of Uzbekistan's best-known artisan traditions.