Isfara
Encyclopedia
Isfara is a city in Sughd Province
in northern Tajikistan
, situated on the border with Kyrgyzstan
. It has a population of 40,600 (2008 est.). The city is capital of Isfara district
.
, its first name was Asbara. The town is mentioned in Tabari
's history from the 10th century, when it was an important stop on the northern branch of the Silk Road
. The town has a mausoleum
from this period, the Hazrati Shoh Mausoleum, which is carved from wood and is unique in Central Asia. Already in the 11th and 12th centuries it had a developed economy. Babur
(1482-1530) named Isfara a main town of the region. The 16th century saw the construction of large public buildings, such as mosque
s and medreseh, in Isfara. In the 17th century Isfara was part of the Kokand Khanate.
and Kyrgyzstan
, at a height of 863m above sea level. Its territory is 832 km².
Isfara is famous for its apricot orchards.
Sughd
Sughd Province is one of the four administrative divisions and one of the three provinces that make up Tajikistan. Centered in the historical Sogdiana, it is located in the northwest of the country, with an area of some 25,400 square kilometers and a population of 2,132,100 , up from 1,870,000...
in northern Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
, situated on the border with 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...
. It has a population of 40,600 (2008 est.). The city is capital of Isfara district
Isfara district
Isfara District or Nohiya-i Isfara is a district at the north-eastern edge of Sughd province, Tajikistan, bordering on Uzbekistan's Ferghana Valley to the north and Kyrgyzstan to the south. Its capital is Isfara.-Administrative divisions:...
.
History
Isfara is one of the oldest ancient towns in Central AsiaCentral Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, its first name was Asbara. The town is mentioned in Tabari
Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari
Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari was a prominent and influential Sunni scholar and exegete of the Qur'an from Persia...
's history from the 10th century, when it was an important stop on the northern branch 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...
. The town has a mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
from this period, the Hazrati Shoh Mausoleum, which is carved from wood and is unique in Central Asia. Already in the 11th and 12th centuries it had a developed economy. Babur
Babur
Babur was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty of South Asia. He was a direct descendant of Timur through his father, and a descendant also of Genghis Khan through his mother...
(1482-1530) named Isfara a main town of the region. The 16th century saw the construction of large public buildings, such as mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s and medreseh, in Isfara. In the 17th century Isfara was part of the Kokand Khanate.
Geography
Isfara is situated near the border junction of three independent states Tajikistan, UzbekistanUzbekistan
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....
and 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...
, at a height of 863m above sea level. Its territory is 832 km².
Demographics
The population of Isfara is mostly Tajik.| Year | Population | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 34,500 | census |
| 2000 | 37,000 | census |
| 2008 | 40,600 | estimate |
Economy
Some 20 industrial companies in Isfara produce electrical equipment, chemical and metallurgical products, construction materials, food products and others.Isfara is famous for its apricot orchards.
External links
- Isfara Online Portal
- Relief International Schools Online Internet Learning Center in Isfara - Archive.org
- "Welcome to Isfara"
- A roadside teahouse in Isfara
- Habib Borjian, "Esfara", in Encyclopaedia Iranica, Columbia University (enter keyword "Esfara" in search field to access the article).
