Every place where a person lives has its own history and sights. Ferghana is not a typical Uzbek city. It was built during the Russian Empire as a fortress, where the garrison was located. Wide streets radiated from it like a fan in all directions. Few historical sites are associated with this period.
City formation
Fergana was originally intended to function as a military-administrative center on the territory of the former Kokand kingdom. Its layout was completely consistent with this. It was developed by military topographers, engineers. The streets that radiated from the fortress in all directions were wide. Its center was a military fortress with a Russian garrison. The chosen area was located 9 kilometers from the ancient city of Margilan, whose age was more than 2 thousand years. It, according to historians, was founded by the Gilans from Persia, who brought sericulture here.
In 1876 the military governorappointed General M. D. Skobelev. The city gets the name New Margilan. A big disadvantage of the choice of terrain was the presence of swamps in the northeastern and northern parts. They could not be drained for a long time, so many residents suffered from malaria. This problem was subsequently resolved.
The city developed slowly. This was based on the transport issue and remoteness from Russia. A branch of the railway passed through Old Margilan, the station of which was called "Gorchakovo". This was subsequently corrected. A railway line was extended from Gorchakovo.
In 1907, the city was named Skobelevo in honor of the first Governor-General, which he wore until the 30s of the last century. Not only specialists from Russia came here, the local population settled around it. By the beginning of the 20th century, one-third of the inhabitants were local people working in factories or trading in the local market.
Sights of Ferghana of this time
In 1879, the building of the Officers' Assembly was built, renamed in Soviet times into the House of Officers. In 1891, the Governor's House was built; today it houses the city drama theater. In 1887, a city garden (park) was laid, which has survived to this day. In 1903, the newly built Men's Gymnasium (administrative building of the FerSU), an Orthodox church and the Jome Masjid (cathedral mosque) were opened.
These few preserved buildings, as well as old houses in which the military, specialists, engineers, teachers, doctors, workers,arriving in the city created a unique atmosphere. Its decoration, protection from the scorching rays of the sun were huge plane trees (plane trees), which became the landmark of Ferghana, its hallmark, as well as a large number of roses. Numerous ditches were laid along the streets, bringing moisture to the trees and coolness to the inhabitants of the city.
Soviet period
In the post-war period, the city began to develop rapidly. Large plants and factories were built. Specialists came here from the European part of the Soviet Union. A reinforced concrete plant is being erected in the city, the construction of the so-called "Khrushchev" buildings begins. This provided housing for many people, but damaged the identity of the city.
The old part of Ferghana remained untouched. Although there were no special frills in it, it was she who created a special originality that was not in other cities. A cozy shady park, founded in the 19th century on the banks of a small and wayward rivulet "Margilan-say", was a favorite vacation spot for the townspeople. Almost the entire indigenous population was illiterate. Schools were opened throughout the region. To meet the need for teachers in 1930, a pedagogical institute was formed. A drama theater appeared, cinemas, palaces of culture were opened.
In Soviet times, the role of the city was predetermined - to become the industrial center of the republic. This was facilitated by the fact that a mostly European population lived here. The indigenous people are mostly farmers. Factories and factories were built, the largest in Uzbekistan. Ferghana became the centersericulture and the chemical industry. An airport was built. The infrastructure of the city developed. Central water supply, sewerage systems, hospitals, kindergartens, sports facilities have been built. New bus routes were opened, trolleybuses began to run around the city.
Shakhimardan
Surrounded by greenery and flowers, Fergana, in the vicinity of which are the cities of Margilan - the center of sericulture, Kokand, Kuva, with preserved monuments of the history of Uzbekistan, in Soviet times became part of the tourist route through the cities of Uzbekistan. People came here from all over the Union and from abroad. Not far from the city, among the mountains of the Alai Range, there is another attraction of Fergana - the village of Shakhimardan - a favorite vacation spot for citizens, located at an altitude of 1.5 thousand meters above sea level.
It is believed that it was formed by the fourth Caliph Hazrat-Ali - the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. This is also evidenced by the name of the village, which is translated as "lord of the people." One of his seven graves is located here. Most likely, this is a legend, since there is no historical evidence for this. But the place is really beautiful. In Soviet times, there was a mausoleum of the Uzbek writer and educator Khamza-Hakim-Zade, who was killed by the Basmachi.
Kokand
The city is rich in historical monuments, the main of which is the palace of Khudoyar Khan, built in 1871 after the annexation of the Kokand Khanate to Russia. It consists of 7 courtyards surrounded by buildings. In hisThe best craftsmen from all over the Ferghana Valley participated in the construction. It is decorated with magnificent ceramic tiles made by craftsmen from Rishtan.
Currently, the local history museum is located here. In addition, in the city you can visit other sights that have survived to this day. These are the tomb of Dahma-i-Shahan, the Jami mosque, the Narbuta-Biya madrasah. Many buildings from the era of the Russian Empire have been preserved in the city.
Currently, most of the Europeans have left Fergana. Industrial enterprises closed. Once a culturally and industrially developed city, today it has turned into a province. But it is still attractive, because the most hospitable and welcoming people in the world live here.
