Isfara

Isfara sits at the edge of the Fergana valley in the far north, in country given over to apricots: the orchards around the town supply much of the country's dried fruit and the harvest in summer fills the roadsides with trays. At Chorku, about 20 km south, stands the Hazrati Shoh mausoleum, a timber building with carved wooden columns, parts of which date back to the 8th century, a structure unique in Central Asia.

What's there

• The Hazrati Shoh mausoleum - a carved timber building at Chorku, parts of it from the 8th century.
• The apricot orchards - the district's crop, dried and sold across the country.
• The carved columns - the woodwork that makes the mausoleum unusual.
• The Fergana edge - the town at the margin of the great valley.

When to go

April to June and September to October are the most comfortable. Apricot harvest runs through the summer. Summer heat in Fergana is severe.

Practical notes

The mausoleum is at Chorku outside the town and needs transport. Opening is irregular. Summer heat here is heavy and the town is workaday.

Nearby

Khujand is west, and Istaravshan is southwest.

Key facts