Fergana Gardens - Uzbekistan

[The following information was kindly submitted by Romil Ibragimov. It comes from pp175-177 of the History of Kokand Khanate, by R.N., Nabiev (Tashkent, 1973) See Gardens in Uzbekistan.

Fergana always was famous for the remarkable gardens; it did not concede in 19 century to other known areas of Central Asia in this attitude. « Concerning gardening, - wrote one observers of those days, - both by quantity, and on quality the fruits of Kokand can safely compete to Bukhara. Extensive gardens occupy huge spaces inside and in vicinities of cities and, making a lot of gentle, extremely tasty fruits, represent a kind of the true forests. In these gardens, except for fruiters - pears, plums, apples, cherries, grapes, peaches, mulberry, nut and almond trees, grow still oaks, plane trees, elms, high a poplar and other … »
Among the remarkable gardens surrounding cities, the gardens belonging khan, members of his house and all feudal nobility were especially allocated. In Fergana, especially in vicinities of Kokand, in hands of khans there were good, known enough gardens. At Alim-khan and the Omar-khan in area of settlement Roshdan (nowadays Rishtan) the district under the name of Char-Chaman (four local flower bed) was mentioned, testifying about its beauty . Alim-khan has constructed here an imperial palace and spent in it an annual monthly military holiday. A little bit later, at the description of battle in 1842 of Sherali-khan with emir Nasrulla, in district the Kara-tepe where there was this battle was mentioned Charms-bugs of Omar-khan under the name the Shah-Chaman. To the south from Kokand the palace of Alim-khan was placed in the beginning of a century, and on distance of two kilometers from it there was a garden of Masum-khan tura(the father of the author «Muntaham at-tavarih» Muhamad Hakim) - the son-in-law of Alim-khan and the Omar-khan. To the south from capital, on distance of three kilometers from city, was, perhaps the largest and known garden of Hudayar-khan - the Afgan-bug. Quite probably, that it is that garden in which the mentioned palace of Alim-khan was placed. In it{this} to a garden there was the big vineyard from which grapes experts of this business prepared shinny (grape treacle). All Russian arrived to Kokand very highly responded about the Afgan-bug: « Behind a city wall there is the charming healthy place, former summer the khan's residence - the Afgan-bug », - wrote one of observers.
Arrived with a view of travel per 1878 in two years after liquidation of Kokand khanate to Kokand professor N.Sorokin has been bedded down in this garden. « Have placed us - he wrote - in the summer premise of khan. I had to lead night in the green Khivan cell, under a shadow of a centenary mulberry tree. Despite of weariness I was delighted with beauty of the southern nature and a moonlight night ».
Certainly, presence of centenary trees reminds of age of the garden for hardly probable, constructed on the basis of old tradition of a landscape gardening lay-out, it could keep trees casually was on a place. It ones more confirms, that just on this place was the summer palace of Alim-khan about 70-75 years ago till examined time. Presence of « Khivan green cells » reminds and of an opportunity presence of others, for example, Bukhara, Cashgarian halls.
The settlement under the same name (Afgan-kishlak), as a garden, was in the same place, was, undoubtedly, rather arranged well. The mosque of this a kishlak possessed significant vakuuf property.
Hudayar had in vicinities of Kokand, probably in its northern part, other known garden - the Urgandjy-bug. Cultivation of gardens for members of khan's family proceeded up to the end of khanate existence. So, the garden with a palace has been incorporated for the son of khan Said Urman-bek in settlement Mui-Mubarak. It is known approximate date of the basis of a garden and a palace in settlement carried a name of grandfather Hudojara Hadzhi-bek (the father of Sherali-khan), on a boundary of 18 and 19 centuries. Meeting in historical works of that period of date of restoration and the characteristic of this garden with a palace speak about relevancy of this object for in sources there is no description of other less significant objects.
In archival documents there are data about delivery of utensils for visitors placed in Youngs-bugs (or Bogi-nau). It is probable, that here is available in view of two different gardens. The garden in settlement the Em-kishlak is mentioned also.
In 1286 hidjra (1868-1869) the magnificent garden around of the palace of Hudayar-khan erected the same year in the city has been incorporated. Resulted in «Tarihiy Shahruhiy » verses in the Uzbek language, devoted to this garden, give some representation about it. « At manufacturing the drawing draftsmen have laid out a garden on eight equal flower beds, And in each of these flower beds was on one thousand rosaries ». « The garden has been embellished by avenues, the lines embellished by flowers and flower beds ». It has been provided by flowing water, there were all kinds of fruit in it. Introduction of preliminary work with breakdown of a prospective garden on flower beds, avenues, decorative lines, fruit trees, system of an irrigation, undoubtedly testify to continuation in this business of the certain degree of rich traditions of landscape gardening construction, former centuries.
Khan and members of khan's family, and also grandees had remarkable gardens and in other districts. For example, in Margilan's district in the document, which was written in 1291 of hidjra (1874-1875), it is mentioned about of Yarmazar's garden and Buggi-dilkusho, named after well-known garden of Timur in Samarkand. The given garden is mentioned also in the document, dated in 1287 of hidjra (1870-1871). Perhaps, Buggi-dilkusho - that garden in which after connection of Fergana to Russia, the imperial administration of the Fergana area was placed. It is mentioned also Assaka's khan garden, and the garden with the summer residence in Alyi-arik. The khan's fort with a garden was in the Namangan district - in Yangi-kurgan. In khan's gardens various birds - swans, ducks contained, geese, pigeons, etc. Only in Kokand city garden was up to 12 thousand pigeons of different painting and breeds.
All of these gardens occupied tens hundreds hectares of the best grounds, … Khan and members of his house spent time in these magnificent gardens. « Other days, - one of authors wrote, - khan spent time in the country gardens " Afghani-bug "and" the Urgandji-bug " where accompanied with him the whole plenty servants and guards, and also a harem ». These gardens served as residences for high ambassadors of the friendly countries. Ambassadors of the hostile countries placed in gardens of some officials.