The development of the ancient settlement of Akhsikent in the Namangan region is turning into one of the largest tourist attractions in Uzbekistan. This project is being implemented at the initiative of the country's president and combines the preservation of historical heritage with the creation of modern tourist infrastructure.
Large-scale construction work at the archaeological site began in June 2023. During this time, several projects have been completed, and work continues on creating nine open museums on the territory, which covers 132.4 hectares. Symbolic entrance gates and a fortress wall have already been erected.
Parallel to this, archaeological surveys are being conducted under the leadership of Abdulkamid Anorboyev, head of the Department of the National Center for Archaeology. Anvar Ikrom, head of the archaeological park, reported that in recent years, promotion events for Akhsikent have been held in 27 countries.
Botirjon Nuriddinov, Deputy Hokim of the Namangan region, inspected the progress of this project's implementation. Organizers note that the simultaneous development of tourist infrastructure and the conduct of archaeological research are aimed at preserving the cultural and historical heritage of the site and unlocking the region's tourism potential.
Significant transformation is taking place in Margilan, one of the oldest settlements in the Fergana Valley. A scientific and educational and tourist complex named 'Burkhaniddin Marginani' has been created here, demonstrating the effective use of the region's historical potential.
This project, with a total cost of 1.7 trillion soums, was designed by the Turkish architectural bureau Studio Vertebra. It was implemented based on the 'city within a city' concept on a 35-hectare territory, successfully combining traditional architecture with modern infrastructure.
The entrance area of the complex is adorned with majestic Margilan gates approximately 27 meters high, which are richly decorated with numerous unique mosaics. The complex is named after the outstanding scholar and founder of Islamic jurisprudence, Burkhaniddin Marginani.
Marginani's scientific heritage formed the basis of the concept, as an Institute of Islamic Jurisprudence and a library are already operating on the complex's grounds. However, the project covers a broader range of areas, including culture, history, and crafts.
A developed infrastructure is provided for visitors: it includes hotels, a caravanserai, a national bazaar, and a craft center where artisans work with weaving and embroidery. Of particular interest is the Otabek and Kumush House museum, whose walls immortalize scenes from Abdullah Kadiri's novel 'Bygone Days'. The cultural life is complemented by the Makom theater and the writers' alley.
The scale of the decorative works is impressive: nearly 20 thousand square meters of walls are covered with unique tiles and mosaics, whose patterns are almost never repeated. It is expected that once the complex reaches full operational capacity, it will be able to host up to 250,000 foreign tourists annually and provide employment for two thousand people.
The success of the Margilan complex is viewed as a model for other initiatives. It is planned that the experience of 'Burkhaniddin Marginani' will be applied to the 'Eternal Bukhara' projects in Bukhara, the development of the Imam Maturidi mausoleum infrastructure in Samarkand, Urda in Kokand, the Akhsikent architectural monument in Namangan, and the old city of Tashkent.
