Margilan

Margilan has been a center of silk production since ancient times, and legend credits Alexander the Great with naming the city after tasting local bread and eggs during his campaign through the region. Today, the Yodgorlik Silk Factory keeps centuries-old traditions alive, producing hand-loomed ikat and atlas fabrics using techniques passed down through generations, from silkworm cocoon to finished cloth, all without modern machinery. The Kumtepa Bazaar, one of the oldest markets in Central Asia, comes alive every Thursday and Sunday when traders from across the Fergana Valley arrive to sell silk, spices, and produce. Margilan sits close to the city of Fergana and pairs naturally with Kokand for travelers interested in the valley's living craft traditions rather than its monuments alone.