TASHKENT – For Pakistani travellers, a journey to Uzbekistan’s Namangan promises offers ancient landmarks, sacred shrines and familiar spiritual traditions. Through its “Heritage of Pilgrimage” programme, the Central Asian nation is inviting visitors to discover the history and culture of the Fergana Valley.
Uzbekistan’s Namangan Region is offering pilgrimage tourism programme that brings together sacred sites, ancient landmarks and the living traditions of the Fergana Valley. Launched at the initiative of the Namangan Regional Administration, the “Heritage of Pilgrimage” programme aims to draw more visitors from Muslim countries while placing the region’s religious, historical and cultural attractions firmly on the international tourism map.
For Pakistani visitors, the initiative offers an opportunity to explore a region connected to their own heritage through shared Islamic values, respect for renowned religious scholars and spiritual traditions passed down through generations.
The programme takes travellers beyond individual shrine visits, combining pilgrimage with an introduction to the Fergana Valley’s centuries-old history, national customs and cultural life. It builds on the appeal of Uzbekistan’s historical monuments, sacred places and distinctive traditions among international tourists.
Among the featured destinations are Aksikent Archaeological Park in Turakurgan District and the Bibiona Mazar pilgrimage site in Chust District. In Chortoq District, the routes include the Sultan Uvays Qaraniy and Bibi Naima Ona pilgrimage sites. Other stops include the “Mothers’ Tears” Complex in Pop District, the “Eleven Ahmad” pilgrimage site in Davlatabad District and the Mulla Kyrgyz Okhund Complex in Namangan city.
The programme also covers more than 20 additional pilgrimage destinations and cultural heritage attractions throughout the region, giving international visitors a wider window into Namangan’s spiritual and historical legacy.
By bringing these destinations together through coordinated itineraries, the regional administration aims to make Namangan more attractive to overseas travellers. Increased visitor numbers are expected to support the development of local tourism infrastructure and create fresh economic opportunities for communities across the region.
Pakistan, with its predominantly Muslim population and longstanding religious and cultural connections with Uzbekistan, represents a particularly promising audience for the initiative.
The “Heritage of Pilgrimage” programme offers two countries a new avenue for expanding tourism cooperation and cultural exchanges, with Namangan inviting Pakistani visitors to experience their shared traditions through its sacred places and historic landscapes.
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