The Fergana Valley: Rishtan Ceramics and Margilan Silk for Craft Lovers

By the Dook International travel team  |  Updated 26 October 2026  |  8 min read

The short answer
Why go: The Fergana Valley in eastern Uzbekistan is where silk is still woven by hand in Margilan and blue ceramics are still glazed by family potters in Rishtan. You can watch both being made and buy directly from the makers.
How to get there: about 4 to 5 hours by road from Tashkent over the Kamchik Pass, 4 to 6 hours by train, or about an hour by air to Fergana.
Best plan: 2 days, timed so you are in Margilan on a Thursday or Sunday for the Kumtepa bazaar.

Fergana Valley at a glance

Margilan: the silk capital of Central Asia

Silk has been made in the Fergana Valley for about 2,000 years, and Margilan grew into the textile capital of Central Asia, sending silk along the Silk Road as far as Europe. Two kinds of fabric define it today.

Yodgorlik Silk Factory

Opened in 1972, Yodgorlik is Margilan's oldest silk-weaving factory and, according to Uzbekistan's official tourism site, the only one in the country that still makes silk products entirely by hand. A tour takes about 30 minutes and follows the whole process:

•       Cocoons are soaked in hot water, and the fine silk thread is unwound.

•       Threads are spun and laid out as the warp.

•       The warp is marked and tied where the pattern will go, then dyed over wood-fired stoves. This is the ikat step.

•       Weavers work the patterned threads on traditional hand looms, and silk carpets are knotted nearby.

There is a shop at the start of the tour selling fabric by the metre, scarves, clothing and gifts.

Margilan Crafts Development Centre

This centre opened in 2007 under UNESCO's patronage to train artisans and keep traditional weaving alive. In 2017, UNESCO added its work on atlas and adras to its register of good safeguarding practices. A newer centre, built in 2020, employs around 600 craftspeople and makes about 200 types of satin and adras. Visitors can watch dyeing and sewing and browse the carpet shop. Source: Uzbekistan Travel.

Kumtepa bazaar

About 5 km from Margilan, Kumtepa opens only on Thursdays and Sundays. It is one of the best places to see adras and atlas sold by the bolt, alongside spices, bread, samsa and plov. It is large, so a local guide helps. Source: Eurasia Travel.

Rishtan: the home of blue ceramics

Rishtan is a small town about 50 km from Fergana city, and it is the most famous pottery centre in Uzbekistan. Archaeologists have found potters' kilns here dating back to the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, and the town has more than 100 master potters today.

•       The clay: local red clay, thrown on the wheel by hand.

•       The glaze: ishkor, made from mineral colours mixed with the ash of burned plants. It gives Rishtan ware its soft shine. Each family keeps its exact recipe secret.

•       The look: turquoise, deep blue and aquamarine patterns, often flowers, branches and fruit, on a pale background.

•       The workshops: family studios such as those of Rustam Usmanov and Alisher Nazirov let visitors watch pieces being thrown, painted and fired.

Look for lagan (large serving platters), kosa (bowls), piala (tea bowls), teapots and decorative plates.

Kokand: palace stop on the way

Most road routes from Tashkent pass through Kokand, once the seat of a powerful khanate. The colourful Khudoyar Khan Palace and the old Jami Mosque make a good first stop before you head on to Rishtan or Fergana.

A 2-day Fergana Valley craft tour

Our 14-day Uzbekistan tour already includes Kokand, Fergana, and the Margilan silk factory. Ask us about adding Rishtan. For the rest of the country, see our Uzbekistan travel guide.

Getting to the Fergana Valley from Tashkent

Shopping tips for craft lovers

•       Check the silk. Real atlas has slightly blurred pattern edges from hand-tied dyeing. Sharp, perfectly printed patterns usually mean machine-printed fabric.

•       Buy pottery at the workshop. You pay the maker directly, see how it is made, and can ask for careful wrapping.

•       Pack ceramics in hand luggage. Ask for bubble wrap and carry fragile pieces with you.

•       Carry cash in som. Small workshops and bazaar stalls prefer cash.

•       Bargain gently at the bazaar. Fixed prices are more common at factory shops and workshops.

•       Keep receipts. Your purchases count towards India's duty-free allowance when you return.

When to go

Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are the most pleasant, with mild weather for walking between workshops. Summers are hot, and winter snow can slow travel over the mountain pass. Plan your Margilan day for a Thursday or Sunday. Comparing the valley with other parts of the country? Our list of the best Uzbekistan cities to visit helps you choose.

Plan your Fergana Valley trip

Tell us your dates and interests, and we can build the valley into your Uzbekistan itinerary, timed for the Kumtepa bazaar and with time in the Rishtan workshops.