The Boshpishagar Cave and the Miraculous Spring

Pishagar is a picturesque corner of wild nature in Uzbekistan, nestled among the steep cliffs of the Malguzar Range in the southern part of Jizzakh Region. At the entrance to the gorge, a healing spring gushes from the ground, near which lies the mazar (tomb) of the Sufi sheikh of the Naqshbandi order, Maulana Muhammad Pishagari, who, according to legends, lived here in the mid-14th century.

Legends attribute the appearance of the spring in the arid steppe foothills to a miracle performed by the Almighty at the request of the ascetic. It was thanks to this miracle that Maulana Muhammad received one of his names, Serob, meaning “abundant with water.” Folk tales also associate the saint’s name with one of the deep caves located in the granite cliffs. Archaeologists have discovered remnants of ancient culture within the cave—pottery shards, household items, bones, rock inscriptions, and drawings, believed to date back to the 4th century BC.

The Boshpishagar Cave is considered one of the largest in the region. Its central hall measures 10 meters in width and over 250 meters in length. From it extends a labyrinth of underground passages, blocked off for safety by an iron grate installed in the mid-20th century. Local residents believe that in the past, one could reach the Tamerlane Gates—a famous rock passage on the route between Jizzakh and Samarkand, separating the Malguzar and Nuratau ranges—through this underground labyrinth. According to legend, when Maulana Muhammad secluded himself in this cave, the words of his prayers could be heard in Mecca. Today, the mazar of Serob Pishagari and the cave attract a large number of Muslim pilgrims.

Just 15 years ago, entering the cave in the Pishagar Gorge required scrambling up a treacherous rocky slope. However, the Muslim community, led by Imam Rahmonkul Juraev, constructed a concrete staircase with 133 steps, making the entrance to the depths of the Malguzar Mountains accessible even to elderly women and young children. As Imam Juraev recounted, during the construction of the staircase, the builders faced an unexpected obstacle—an invasion of scorpions. Yet, prayers and appeals for help from the saint drove away the venomous insects, allowing the construction to be successfully completed.

Today, pilgrims travel to the Pishagar Gorge in large groups, using any available means of transport—horses and donkeys, motorcycles, taxis, and even trucks. For modern pilgrims, such journeys combine a pious purpose (visiting the saint’s mazar) with pleasant weekend outings.

@ Andrey Kudryashov / “Fergana”