Kokand (sometimes written Qo'qon) is one of the historic jewels of the Fergana Valley in eastern Uzbekistan. It was the capital of the powerful Kokand Khanate in the 18th and 19th centuries and still preserves tiled palaces, royal courtyards, Quranic madrasas, tall wooden mosques and bazaars full of living crafts.
Not everything here is about the past. Kokand is also a modern city with lively avenues, family parks and a very different everyday atmosphere from other historic centres such as Samarkand or Bukhara. You are in the cultural heart of the country’s east, close to Fergana, Andijan and Namangan.
This guide brings everything together: the Khudayar Khan Palace, the Jami Mosque, Narbutabey Madrasah, traditional bazaars, local food, textile crafts and typical embroidery from the valley. You will also see how to get here from Tashkent and how to include Kokand in a wider Silk Road itinerary in Uzbekistan.
The best way to discover Kokand is with a local guide who knows both the history of the Kokand Khanate and the family stories still told in the old neighbourhoods. A typical tour includes:
• Khudayar Khan Palace, former residence of the last great khan.
• Jami Mosque, with its impressive gallery of carved
wooden columns.
• Narbutabey Madrasah, one of the most important
Islamic schools in the valley.
• Traditional bazaars, where artisans sell embroidery,
traditional skullcaps (tubeteika) and ceramics.
There are also sunrise and sunset photo walks to capture the turquoise, green and sandy tones of domes and ornate portals. If you travel as a family or in a small group, we can arrange private transfers with a Spanish-speaking guide across the whole Fergana Valley, linking Fergana, Andijan and Namangan. Just ask us via the contact page.
Unlike cities such as Khiva or Bukhara, Kokand receives fewer international visitors. That means visits often feel more authentic, closer and more “this is real everyday life in eastern Uzbekistan”.
Although there have been settlements in the area for many centuries, the big leap for Kokand came in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it became capital of the Kokand Khanate — an oasis state that controlled the fertile Fergana Valley and the routes connecting Central Asia with China, Kashgar and the mountain ranges to the east.
The Khanate was a direct rival of other regional powers such as Khiva and Bukhara, and grew rich on the trade of silk, cotton, spices, ceramics, handcrafted weapons and, at times, caravan tribute. This explains the monumental scale of the Khudayar Khan Palace and the density of madrasas and mosques built to legitimise the khan’s religious and political power.
With the Russian expansion in the 19th century the Khanate was absorbed and Kokand lost its independence. But the city kept its cultural, religious and craft prestige and, to this day, remains a symbol of regional pride within Uzbekistan.
Walking around Kokand means walking through a capital that was once feared, respected and deeply influential in Central Asia.
The Khudayar Khan Palace is the absolute icon of Kokand. Its façade of blue, green and white tiles with geometric and floral patterns looks like a giant ceramic carpet. At its peak the complex had more than 100 rooms, inner courtyards and private spaces for the khan’s court.
Today part of the complex functions as a museum, with rooms dedicated to the history of the Khanate, everyday objects of the elite, weapons, manuscripts and examples of local decorative art. It is unmissable if you want to understand Kokand’s political power.
Besides the palace, there are two other highlights you should not miss:
• Jami Mosque: famous for its long gallery with dozens of
carved wooden columns, each decorated with traditional
Fergana Valley motifs. It is one of the finest examples of religious
architecture in Central Asia outside the most visited circuits.
• Narbutabey Madrasah: one of the oldest and most
important madrasas in the region, where religious scholars were trained
and, in some periods, figures who directly influenced Khanate politics.
The architectural scale of Kokand rivals monuments people usually associate only with Samarkand or Bukhara. But here in the east, the ornamentation has its own flavour: more wood, more local colour, less imperial marble.
The Fergana Valley is famous for its textile crafts, embroidery and ceramics. Kokand is one of the best places to see family workshops where tubeteikas (traditional Uzbek skullcaps), embroidered tablecloths and woodwork are still made by hand.
Throughout the year there are fairs and the well-known International Handicraft Festival of Kokand, where local artisans and guests from all over Central Asia present embroidery, calligraphy, hand-painted ceramics, musical instruments, traditional jewellery and textiles dyed with ancient techniques.
Visiting these workshops is not just about buying souvenirs. It is about seeing how techniques are passed from one generation to the next and how Uzbek cultural pride stays alive even in the face of fast modernisation.
If you want something truly local, ask for a traditional tea house (chaykhana): carpets, low cushions, green tea, fresh salads, grilled shashlik and tandoor bread still warm from the oven.
Today Kokand is a lively city in eastern Uzbekistan, with traffic, universities, Quranic schools, open-air markets, family parks and modern cafés. It is not just a historic backdrop: it is a lived-in and proud city.
The central bazaar is the social heart. Here you can try Fergana Valley plov (richer, aromatic, with yellow carrot), manti (steamed dumplings), mastava (rice and vegetable soup) and incredible fruit in season: grapes, melons, pomegranates.
As in most of Uzbekistan, local hospitality is immediate. A simple “rahmat” (thank you) or “salom” (hello) opens smiles and sometimes whole conversations about where you are from.
At sunset many locals stroll along the tree-lined avenues, buying sweets, ice cream and fresh bread. It is a perfect moment for warm-light photos.
Kokand lies at the western end of the Fergana Valley, one of the most fertile and densely populated regions of Uzbekistan.
• From Tashkent:
you can come by train (including faster services depending on schedule),
shared taxi or private car, crossing spectacular mountain passes that
link the capital with the valley.
• From Andijan and
Fergana:
well-established roads run within the valley, with frequent collective
taxis and marshrutkas.
• From Namangan:
the journey is relatively short and very local, ideal to see real life
in the region — orchards, villages and farm landscapes.
Within Kokand you can walk to most of the main historic sights (palace, madrasas, mosques, bazaar) or use a local taxi for longer distances.
Do you want to integrate Kokand into a broader route including Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and finish in the Fergana Valley? Write to us via the contact page and we will organise it with a Spanish-speaking guide.
The Fergana Valley is fertile and warm. The best time to visit Kokand is usually spring (March–May) and autumn (September–October), when temperatures are pleasant and markets are full of fresh fruit.
Summer can be hot but still manageable if you bring a hat or scarf for the sun, plenty of water and light clothing.
Culturally the valley is traditional. Respect active mosques and madrasas where students still study: cover shoulders and knees, speak softly and ask for permission before photographing people.
Overall safety in Uzbekistan is good and Kokand is no exception. As always, use common sense in crowded markets, agree taxi prices in advance and remember that a genuine smile goes a long way.
If you want to go beyond the typical route (Tashkent → Samarkand → Bukhara → Khiva) and include Kokand to discover the east of the country and Fergana Valley culture, just tell us: we create tailor-made itineraries with driver and Spanish-speaking guide.
