Jalal-Abad
Encyclopedia
Jalalabat is the administrative and economic centre of Jalal-Abad Province
in southwestern Kyrgyzstan
, with a population of about 150,000. It is situated at the north-eastern end of the Fergana valley
along the Kugart river valley, in the foothills of the Babash Ata mountains, very close to Uzbekistan
border.
Jalalabat is known for its mineral springs in its surroundings, and the water from the nearby Azreti-Ayup-Paygambar spa was long believed to cure lepers. Several Soviet era sanatoriums offer mineral water treatment programs for people with various chronic diseases. Bottled mineral water from the region is sold around the country and abroad.
's main branches of the Silk Road
passed through Jalalabat and the region has played host to travelers for thousands of years, although little archaeological remains are visible today – except in some of the more remote parts of the region – such as Saimalu Tash and the Chatkal valley. These have included travelers, traders, tourists and pilgrims (to the various holy sights) and sick people visiting the curative spas such as in the Ayub Tau mountain, at the altitude of 700 m above sea level some three kilometers out of town.
There is a legend that the water from the Azreti-Ayup-Paygambar spa cured lepers. According to the legend there was a grave, a mosque and the khan's palace near the spa.
Abad is often used in Asian cities names to refer to the person who founded the community. It is said that Jalalabat was named after Jalal ad Din, who was renowned for setting up Caravanserai
s to serve travelers and many pilgrim
s who came to the holy mountain.
In early 19th century a small Kokand
fortress was built, and a small kishlak
grew up around this. The local people were engaged in agriculture, trade and provided services to the pilgrim
s visiting the spas. Then, in the 1870s, Russian migrants came to the region. They set up a garrison town and military hospital.
), runs from the Ferghana Valley northeast about 30 km to Kökjanggak
.
Biggest Companies: Kyrgyz-Canada JV "Kyrgyz Petroleum Company", АО «Kelechek», АО «Nur». AOZT «KyrgyzChlopok», JV «Ak-Altyn» process cotton. There are also tobacco-fermantaion companies «Tura-Ai» ltd and «Aziz-Tabak» ltd. 90 % of their output have been exported to 17 countries. There are also mill houses АО «Azrat Ayib», AOZT PTK «Intershaq», «Mariam & Co» ltd, and liquer production company AOZT «Jalalabat Arak Zavodu».
The US Peace Corps
is very active in the region; volunteers serve in the education and small business sectors.
Jalal-Abad Province
Jalal-Abad Province, also known as Jalalabat , is a province of Kyrgyzstan. Its capital is the city of the same name, Jalal-Abad. It is surrounded by Talas Province, Chui Province, Naryn Province, Osh Province and Uzbekistan. The Jalal-Abad Province was established on November 21, 1939...
in southwestern Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
, with a population of about 150,000. It is situated at the north-eastern end of the Fergana valley
Fergana Valley
The Fergana Valley or Farghana Valley is a region in Central Asia spreading across eastern Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Divided across three subdivisions of the former Soviet Union, the valley is ethnically diverse, and in the early 21st century was the scene of ethnic conflict...
along the Kugart river valley, in the foothills of the Babash Ata mountains, very close to Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
border.
Jalalabat is known for its mineral springs in its surroundings, and the water from the nearby Azreti-Ayup-Paygambar spa was long believed to cure lepers. Several Soviet era sanatoriums offer mineral water treatment programs for people with various chronic diseases. Bottled mineral water from the region is sold around the country and abroad.
History
One of KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
's main branches of the Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
passed through Jalalabat and the region has played host to travelers for thousands of years, although little archaeological remains are visible today – except in some of the more remote parts of the region – such as Saimalu Tash and the Chatkal valley. These have included travelers, traders, tourists and pilgrims (to the various holy sights) and sick people visiting the curative spas such as in the Ayub Tau mountain, at the altitude of 700 m above sea level some three kilometers out of town.
There is a legend that the water from the Azreti-Ayup-Paygambar spa cured lepers. According to the legend there was a grave, a mosque and the khan's palace near the spa.
Abad is often used in Asian cities names to refer to the person who founded the community. It is said that Jalalabat was named after Jalal ad Din, who was renowned for setting up Caravanserai
Caravanserai
A caravanserai, or khan, also known as caravansary, caravansera, or caravansara in English was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey...
s to serve travelers and many pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
s who came to the holy mountain.
In early 19th century a small Kokand
Kokand
Kokand is a city in Fergana Province in eastern Uzbekistan, at the southwestern edge of the Fergana Valley. It has a population of 192,500 . Kokand is 228 km southeast of Tashkent, 115 km west of Andijan, and 88 km west of Fergana...
fortress was built, and a small kishlak
Kishlak
Kishlak or qishlaq is a rural settlement of semi-nomadis Turkic peoples of Central Asia , in Afghanistan, and in other places...
grew up around this. The local people were engaged in agriculture, trade and provided services to the pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
s visiting the spas. Then, in the 1870s, Russian migrants came to the region. They set up a garrison town and military hospital.
Economy
The train line (a rarity in KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
), runs from the Ferghana Valley northeast about 30 km to Kökjanggak
Kökjanggak
Kökjanggak is a town of about 10,000 in the Suzak District of the Jalal-Abad Oblast of western Kyrgyzstan, located at a distance of about 35 km of the regional centre city Jalal-Abad.-History:Kökjanggak originated as a coal-mining settlement in the beginning of 20-th century...
.
Biggest Companies: Kyrgyz-Canada JV "Kyrgyz Petroleum Company", АО «Kelechek», АО «Nur». AOZT «KyrgyzChlopok», JV «Ak-Altyn» process cotton. There are also tobacco-fermantaion companies «Tura-Ai» ltd and «Aziz-Tabak» ltd. 90 % of their output have been exported to 17 countries. There are also mill houses АО «Azrat Ayib», AOZT PTK «Intershaq», «Mariam & Co» ltd, and liquer production company AOZT «Jalalabat Arak Zavodu».
The US Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
is very active in the region; volunteers serve in the education and small business sectors.