Natural wealth of Chartak

Three reasons to visit Namangan,
little-known treasures of Uzbekistan

Three reasons to visit Namangan, or little-known treasures of Uzbekistan

What are your associations when you hear "Uzbekistan"? Pilaf, sun, hospitality, Samarkand, Bukhara, Tashkent, Khiva, delicious fruits, skullcaps. Uzbekistan means thousand-year-old oases that store natural wealth and ancient legends. The Fergana valley is one of these oases. People call it the "Golden Valley" for its rare natural landscape, fertile lands, originality and historical heritage. In Uzbekistan you can enjoy a very mild climate. Here you'll observe the process of creation of the blue Rishtan ceramics, the legendary Chust knives and vapory Margilan silk. You'll degust fragrant Fergana melons at the farm where they are cultivated. You'll pilgrimage to the holy places.

What are the secrets of the Fergana valley? People call it the "Golden Valley" for its rare natural landscape, fertile lands, originality and historical heritage. In Uzbekistan you can enjoy a very mild climate. Here you'll observe the process of creation of the blue Rishtan ceramics, the legendary Chust knives and vapory Margilan silk. You'll degust fragrant Fergana melons at the farm where they are cultivated. You'll pilgrimage to the holy places.

NAMANGAN

20 kilometers from Namangan there are the ruins of Aksikent, the ancient capital of the Fergana valley. Many years ago it was an unassailable fortress with a luxurious palace and its own water sources. In the XIII century the Mongols destroyed it. The citadel was rebuilt during the reign of the Temurids, but in 1620 the city was destroyed by a strong earthquake. Survivors moved to the small Namakkon village, where salt mines were located. Since that time the chronicles of Namangan city (the Namangan region later) begin.

Three things every traveler could not fail to notice in the Namangan region

Bounteous nature

Наdelicious fruits and vegetables are growing on the earth fed by glacial and underground water. In early August, when the harvest becomes abundant, tree branches bend and break because of heavy still green persimmon. Popular Uzbek salad Achik-Chuchuk (achichuk) seems to be dressed with sugar sauce because tomatoes in this region are very sweet. And what about the famous Namangan apples! People sing a song about their flavour!

A grapefruit tree is growing in the greenhouse of the old school located in the Chartak district. Branches with large fruits almost touch the ground. Nearby there are a lot of nut and almond trees. Almonds grow here in every garden: when a rough nut shell begins to crack, people put the almonds on the ground forming lines. Under the tender sun light they get ripe, a hard shell opens and a sweet kernel appears.

Hospitable people

Chartak district of the Namangan region. A small village buried in the dust and shade of trees. We are looking for people who can tell us more about this area. .

— Assalom aleykum, akajon (Hello, my brother). Yordam kerak (Can you help us?), - we ask a stranger on the street.

- Keling, keling, mehmonlar (Welcome, dear guests), - he said and invited us to come in, offered to take a seat on the topchan (Uzbek couch) or near the dastarhan (table, to break bread with him and his family). He put a teapot with a traditional "cotton" pattern and cups for all people sitting at the table. Zirvak - a special mixture for cooking pilaf - is boiling in kazan (large cooking pot). А granddaughter of the hostess was standing nearby. She was very curious to hear what the adults are talking about. But traditions demand to be modest and not to interfere in the conversation of adults.

The most difficult thing to do was to leave their house. Eastern hospitality does not allow to let a guest leave hungry. Sweets, salad, flat cakes, pilaf, melon, watermelon... And, of course, a large-leaved green tea - the "ambassador" of Uzbek table. It does not matter if a guest is not hungry. If you refuse, you'll hurt host's feelings, so, it is better to sit at the table and degust a little of all the dishes.

Water Miracles

Water was always the main wealth in the hot climate of Central Asia. Water means life. Nature has not just endowed the Fergana valley with waterways, nature complimented the valley with underground springs that in the truest sense of the word heal people of various diseases. There are two spa resorts (Chartak and Kasansay) in the Namangan region. People came to Chartak sanatorium, built in the middle of the last century, from all over the Soviet Union (hyperlink to article 6). Mineral water was bottled and transported in wagons to other union republics.

gastric diseases;
gynecological diseases;
musculoskeletal system disorders;
nervous and endocrine system diseases;
dermatological disorders;
musculoskeletal disorde

and etc.

Fortunately, Chartak water today is free for all. A few years ago, local businessmen restored the production of mineral water. Now you can buy Chartak water at many supermarkets and stores of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. It is produced according to international standards and using modern equipment. All useful properties of water are retained (hyperlink to article 7).

People come to Chartak for different purposes. Some people just want to relax in a mild climate and visit the pilgrimage places in this area. But many people come to recover health and boost immune system. Local natural resources (water, air, nature gifts) have an effective healing power and supply a vigor for a long time.

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