Kuva

Kuva is a quaint town situated in the northeastern part of the Fergana region, approximately 20 kilometers from the regional center of Fergana city. The administrative center of Kuva was officially established in 1927. The district of Kuva borders Tashlak and Iziyavan districts, the town of Kuvasai, and the Asaka and Markhamat districts of the Andijan region, as well as the Republic of Kyrgyzstan (19.2 km away). Covering a total area of 440 square kilometers, Kuva boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage.

The name «Kuva» is derived from a Turkic tribal name known among the Kyrgyz and Uzbek peoples. The precise date of the town’s founding is not documented, but archaeological studies suggest its origins date back to the 3rd century BC.

Medieval records based on Arab sources from the 7th century mention the town as Kuba. Positioned along an ancient caravan route that linked the Fergana Valley with Kashgar, Kuba was once the second most significant city in the region, following Ahsiket, the ancient capital of the Fergana Valley. However, the city was destroyed during the Mongolian invasion in the late 13th century.

The ancient city of Kuva was divided into three main parts: the citadel, the shakhristan (inner part of the city), and the rabid (residential part of the city). In the Middle Ages, Kuva played a crucial economic and political role in the Fergana Valley, known for its advanced handicrafts, especially pottery, gold-work, and metal treatment.

The first archaeological explorations of Kuva began in the 1950s during the construction of the Big Fergana Canal. However, the most significant discoveries were made during the 1956-57 expeditions. These excavations unveiled an entire residential block and, more notably, a Buddhist temple complex. The temple contained fragments of monumental sculptures and statues representing various deities of the Buddhist pantheon, along with clay statues of Buddha, highlighting the spread of Buddhism in the Fergana Valley. Images of gods opposing Buddha were also found, designed to instill aversion in believers by their terrifying appearances.

One of the most intriguing findings was the head of the goddess Shri-Devi, painted in black. The goddess is depicted as a fierce woman adorned with horrendous jewelry, including a necklace and diadem made of skulls, and accompanied by her companions Makaravaktra Dakini (with a sea-monster face) and Simhazaktra (with a lion face). Many hymns were dedicated to Shri-Devi, glorifying her as a powerful and just zealot of the faith. Some of these artifacts are now exhibited in the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan.

Kuva is also renowned as the birthplace of the great medieval astronomer, mathematician, and scholar-encyclopedist Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Kathir al-Farghani, known in Europe as Alfraganus. Alfraganus served the caliphs in Merv, Cairo, and Baghdad and founded several universities in Damascus and observatories in various cities across the East. In 1998, a memorial complex was erected in Kuva to commemorate the 1200th anniversary of this great scholar.

The Al-Farghani memorial complex is adjacent to the territory of the ancient shakhristan, featuring a fragment of an archaeological dig. During the construction of this complex, the shakhristan vallum was restored, and a large 350-meter-long garden with a fountain was established nearby. Two staircases lead to a pavilion with a monument dedicated to Al-Farghani, situated on the shakhristan hill.

Today, Kuva is not only a picturesque town surrounded by lush gardens and vineyards but also a significant cultural and historical site. Known for producing some of the juiciest fruits in Uzbekistan, Kuva has become a prominent stop on the touristic route in the Fergana Valley, attracting visitors with its rich history and beautiful landscapes. The town’s blend of natural beauty and historical significance makes it a must-visit destination in Uzbekistan.