Isfara

Isfara - the city of blossoming gardens

Isfara captivates immediately the heart with its unique image and positive energy, and still blooming gardens and the most delicious apricots and peaches

"Slender poplars are amazing,

Blows cool and cherishes them.

And in the distance seen giants-the mountains,

The tops of snow whiten them. "

Perhaps these lines of Tajik poet Akmal Saifidinov, dedicated to Isfara, characterize the city better and very accurately describe its place - in the foothills of Turkestan range, bordered on the south-western Fergana ditch, on the Isfara River, in the Sogd region, at the crossroads of two neighboring countries - Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

At the heat of a scorched plain,

Gloomily the water of Chilgaza gets cold,

Quietly streams towards the valley

Its grace is like a handful of diamonds.

The fragrant herbs smell,

And covers the field like a cloth

The land is fulfilled with the green gardens,

Because the fertility is not deprived!

The symbol of this fertility is immortalized in the form of a huge bright yellow peach. It stands on a small circular pedestal near Isfara bazaar where this sunny fruit can be seen.

Due to the hot, dry climate, slightly cooler than the desert regions of Central Asia, as well as the abundance of sunny days in a year in Isfara delicious fruit and vegetables ripe and plantations of apricot scattered all around Isfara district - here there are 144 varieties, accounting for 10% of the world apricot plantations. For instance, mirsanjali, tojiboyi, qandak, boboi, kadukhurmoi, surkh, subhon, ahrori, khujandi - all are countless. For example, the sort of qandak is especially appreciated in Greece, India, and China. It is sweet as honey and bright-orange as a sunset sun - dried apricots of Isfara is spread around the world and introduce the hospitable Tajik land. And in the spring, at the time of bloom of trees - cherry, peach, apricot, Isfara dresses like a bride in delicate pink and white outfit - no worse than the Japanese cherry blossoms, which many love to watch its blossoming.

But Isfara is not only rich with its gardens. It gains fame with its talented people - artists, artisans, craftsmen. And in order to make sure one should visit, for example, tea-house restaurant "Orien" which is fascinating with its carved pillars and painted aivans, quite worthy like the ancient mosques and madrassas of Istaravshan (former Uroteppa) or Kokand. The interior decoration is quite a different question. The carvers and artists worked so skillfully and transferred flavor that everyone cannot help the feeling as if the spirit hovers around the khan's palace, and the visitor does not just taste delicious Isfara pilaf, and on the contrary became a guest of the ruler himself.

About pilaf there a lot to say - Isfarians believe that the day without pilaf is considered a day without anything, so that is why each teahouse prepares up to 30 kg of pilaf every day - and they  feed their close people, and the guests either, because many go to Isfara specially to have pilaf.. What makes it so attractive? First of all cooks basically use only local, Isfara products, with the exception of salt, which is brought from Asht. Secondly, each master has the secrets of their preparation, and people easily can distinguish one cook from another. Third, the chefs pass their secrets from generation to generation only to their close ones. But one secret they eventually they still share. And this secret is in linseed oil, in which Isfara oil pressers add apricot and peach, cotton seeds, melon, rape, sunflower during the oil pressing. And in this case the oil gets not only a special taste, but also will gets a variety of useful components.

And also you can wander around Isfara and to make a beautiful tour of the local stores and shops, buy local products from silk, leather, wood, souvenirs, get into the spirit of the East and feel like one of the buyers on the Great Silk Road, which once passed through the Isfara valley and connected China and Asia to Europe and Russia, including Khujand, Namangan, Kokand, Andijan.

Isfara is considered one of the most ancient cities of Central Asia, was first mentioned in the X century in the "History of Tabari". After becoming one part of the Samanid State, it began to develop rapidly, gradually turning into a major agricultural center of Turkestan, while preserving the reputation of cultural heritage of the Ferghana Valley. Isfara district was icluded the Tajik SSR as part of the Khujend in October 1929. In 1952 it received the status of a city, and in January 31, 1977 was destroyed after the earthquake. The town was restored in the summer of the same year by the construction battalion department of the Soviet army.

Isfara also has its heroes – they are the imperishable participants of the Great Patriotic War, as well as local revolutionary Muborakkadam or Ahmadkhon Saidkhonov commander of the higher mobile equestrian militia, who died in 1927 in a fight with the robber bands.

There is a small historical museum, collections of its artifacts are about 2,500 units. The most numerous collections of numismatics and ethnography are kept in that museum.

Its gifts are divinely delicious,

Grapes, juicy cherries, quince.

About the plum-tree and do not say!

"One of the best in the world!" - says the rumor.

In order to check that saying, visit Isfara - a city of blossoming gardens and the very best apricot in the world!