Margilan

History

Margilan first appears in written sources in the 10th century, when it was called Marghinan. Archaeology shows that irrigated farming in the oasis began much earlier, and in 2007 the city celebrated its 2,000th anniversary. The Baburnama lists Margilan among the eight towns of Fergana and praises its pomegranates and apricots. The city is also linked with the 12th-century jurist Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani, author of the Hidaya.

For centuries Margilan lived by the silk trade, sending its fabrics to Kashgar, Iran and beyond.

What it is known for

Margilan is still the capital of Uzbek silk. At the Yodgorlik factory you can follow the whole process, from reeling cocoons to dyeing and hand-weaving ikat. The Said Ahmad Khoja Madrasa houses a crafts centre whose work safeguarding atlas and adras was added to a UNESCO register in 2017. The city also has the Khanaka Mosque and the Pir Siddiq complex, and nearby Kumtepa Bazaar comes alive on Sundays.