Route: Tashkent—Kokand—Rishtan—Margilan—Tashkent
TRIP OVERVIEW
One of the most popular destinations in Uzbekistan with this two-day tour to Fergana Valley. On this tour you meet artisans and master craftsmen in their workshops with our Tour to Fergana Valley. Travelers visit famous Kokand city with the most impressive sight of Khudayar Khan Palace, Margilan where the majority of silk with traditional ikat designs is made in Uzbekistan and Rishtan city—famed for its blue-and-green ceramics.
• Travelers can see traditional methods of weaving along the Silk Road. One of the best-known places is in Margilan in the Fergana Valley, where visitors are welcome to tour in a small factory.
• You learn difference between artificial and real silk (Real silk is warmer to the touch, is more tightly woven and if you care to set fire to a piece, will turn into an ashen ball and smell like burning hair).
• Have a guided tour in the most impressive sight of Kokand in Khudayar Khan Palace which is one of the most glittering royal residences in Central Asia.
The sightseeing in Kokand:
Palace of Khudáyár Khán: the most impressive sight of Kokand is the Khudayar Khan Palace , one of the most glittering royal residences in Central Asia. The Palace originally had got 113 rooms set around seven courtyards and this days visiters can visit 19 of rooms which is remained.
Jami Mosque: Juma Mosque in Kokand was built by King Umar Khan between 1809 and 1812, and it was the khan’s primary place of worship. The mosque remained shut for most the 20th century, but reopened after much-needed restoration in 1989. There is a minaret and 98 glorious redwood columns, carved and imported from India.
Norbut-Biya Madrasah: built in the 1790s, has an attached graveyard (Dahmai shakhan or cemetery of the khans) that includes the Modari Khan Mausoleum where Omar Khan and his wife, the poet Nadira Begim, are entombed. Built in 1825, it has a grand entry portal with an ornate mosaic of blue glazed tiles.
The sightseeing in Rishtan
Rishtan town is famous for its blue-and-green ceramics and the oldest center of ceramic art in Central Asia. Visit one of the pottery studio of the town.
The sightseeing in Margilan
Nowadays the majority of silk is made large factories and most of these are in China. However, it is still possible to see traditional methods of weaving along the Silk Road. One of the best-known places is in Margilan in the Fergana Valley, where visitors are welcome to tour in a small factory.
Please note: Travelers who want to visit Fergana Valley in one day by car we can arrange this trip as well. Total Duration is 16 hours. Travelers visit Kokand, Margilan, Rishtan cities and back to Tashkent at the same day. It is recommended to start at 6:00 am. It is a long drive to Fergana Valley and the same way back to Tashkent total drive is 10 hours (5 hours from Tashkent to Fergana Valley and the same back to Tashkent). Visiting places in Fergana Valley: Kokand— Palace of Khudáyár Khán, Jami Mosque, Norbut-Biya Madrasah. Rishtan— visit one of the pottery studio of the town. Margialan— Yodgorlik Silk Factory.
Feel free to customize this tour based on the interests of your private group.
