Margilan

Margilan is one of the ancient cities of Central Asia. There is no exact facts when and who was based Margelan city, but it is known from ancient written sources, that Margelan was the largest city of the Fergana valley in 10 century A.D.

The great commander Zahiritddin Muhammad Bobur has noted in his novel "BOBURNOMA" , that Margilan was famous for the fruit gardens, sweet granates and dried apricots.

There is a legend about the provenance of the name of Margelana city, connected with the invention of Alexander Makedonsky in Central Asia in 4 century B.C. Historically is proved, that Alexander Makedonsky has passed the way from Hodjent to Uzgen and back, and twice he was in the city subsequently named Margelan. The legend is like that: ... The local inhabitants, having found out about the intention of Makedonsky to visit their city, had prepared for his ceremonial meeting. One of the elder of city has advised to meet the visitors by the chicken and bread, as Romans like chicken meat.

What was made. Alexander Makedonsky has sked after the treating, how this dish was called. It was the aswer to him: "Murginon", that is chicken and bread. He has tasted this dish again on the way back and then he has named this district "Murginon". From that time the name Margelan appeared.

Margelan is known by the silk since olden times. On Great Silk Road the merchants carried Margilan silk in Bagdad, Kashgar Horasan, Egypt and Greece. That is why, one of the historians has written: " One pattern of Margilan silk is worth of all Bukhara grounds ".
The population of Margilan is 165 thousands people, the territory of city is 50 square kilometers. Margilan is situated at a height of 475 meters above sea level, in 15 kilometers to north from Fergana and Kokand.

Margilan is a silk capital of Uzbekistan. There are two factories on manufacture of silk in the city. "Khan - atlas" indastrial association is the largest enterprise in the countries of UIS on the manufacture of silk. Daily, the factory lets out up to 2,5 kilometers of a fabric, known in the whole world.

The souvenir factory "Yodgorlik" is the unique factory in Central Asia, where the original manual way of the manufacture of silk is saved. The factory is famous for its fabrics far away outside Uzbekistan, silk materials made here, often became the winners of the international competitions. Every year more than 2000 foreign visitors receive an opportunity to meet with all production phases of the khan - atlas at the factory "Yodgorlik".