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Namangan Region

The northern side of the Fergana Valley, with a garden city at its centre, the ruins of medieval Akhsikath and the knife-makers of Chust.

Namangan Region, photo 1

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Guide to Namangan Region

Overview

Namangan Region covers the north of the Fergana Valley, between the Syr Darya and the foothills of the Kurama and Chatkal ranges. Its capital, Namangan, is a large city known for its gardens and flowers.

The city has a pair of good historic buildings, the Mulla Kyrgyz madrasa and the Khodja Amin mausoleum, and green parks for an evening walk. Beyond it lie the excavated site of Akhsikath, the craft town of Chust and the mineral springs of Chortoq.

History

For centuries the leading town on this side of the valley was Akhsikath, on the bank of the Syr Darya, which served as a capital of Fergana in the early Middle Ages. After it declined, the centre of life moved to Namangan, which grew from a settlement into a city during the period of the Kokand Khanate.

Namangan expanded quickly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the Mulla Kyrgyz madrasa was built. Under Soviet rule it became an industrial and agricultural centre, while the old mahallas kept their gardens and craft traditions.

Getting there

Trains from Tashkent pass through the Kamchik tunnel and reach Namangan, which is also on the line that crosses the valley. Check the timetable and book through Uzbekistan Railways.

Namangan airport has flights to Tashkent and a few international routes. Shared taxis from Tashkent take the road over the Kamchik pass; settle the fare before leaving.

Getting around

In Namangan, taxis and ride-hailing apps reach all the sights in town. Shared taxis and minibuses go to Chust, Chortoq and the other district towns, as well as to Andijan and Fergana.

Akhsikath sits outside villages near the river, so hire a car with a driver who knows the way.

When to go

Late April and May are the time to see Namangan's gardens in flower; September and October bring the harvest and comfortable temperatures.

Summers are hot in the valley floor, which is when the cooler foothills and the Chortoq springs are most appealing.

Food

Namangan has its own versions of plov and samsa, and teahouses in the old quarters serve them with green tea and fresh flatbread. Flatbread from Namangan bakeries is known in the region.

Orchards around the city supply apricots, grapes, pomegranates and walnuts, which you will find at the central bazaar.

Crafts

Chust is known for its knives, with carved handles and forged blades made by families of smiths, and for the black-and-white Chust doppi skullcap. Both are sold at the town bazaar and in Namangan.

Craft workshops now occupy the cells of the Mulla Kyrgyz madrasa in Namangan, so a visit to the building is also a chance to watch artisans at work.

Good to know

Namangan city can be seen in half a day; add a day for Akhsikath and Chust. The city is also an easy base for a day in Andijan or a trip across the valley to Kokand.

Knives are restricted items on flights, so pack a Chust knife in checked luggage.

Must-see in Namangan Region

All 21 places in Namangan Region
  • Mulla Kyrgyz MadrasaEnsembles

    Namangan

    Mulla Kyrgyz Madrasa

    An early 20th-century madrasa in Namangan with a decorated brick portal and corner towers, whose cells now hold craft workshops.

  • Khodja Amin MausoleumMausoleums

    Namangan

    Khodja Amin Mausoleum

    An 18th-century mausoleum in Namangan whose portal is covered in carved and glazed brick, among the older monuments of the city.

  • AkhsikathArchaeology

    Toʻraqoʻrgʻon District

    Akhsikath

    The ruins of a medieval capital of Fergana on a high bank of the Syr Darya, with excavated walls, streets and workshops.

  • Bobur Park, NamanganNature

    Namangan

    Bobur Park, Namangan

    A green park in central Namangan, a city known for its flower growers, with shaded paths and flower beds for an evening walk.

  • Resorts

    Chortoq

    Chortoq Sanatorium

    A mineral-water spa in the foothills north of Namangan, used for health stays since the mid-20th century.

  • Museums

    Namangan

    Namangan Regional Museum

    The region's museum of history and local lore, covering archaeology, crafts and the nature of the valley.

Things to do in Namangan Region

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