Istaravshan is a city in the Sughd region of Tajikistan, in the foothills of the Turkestan Range, not far from the city of Khujand and the Syrdarya River. The climate is mild, winters are snowy, summers are cool and dry.
Istaravshan (Uroteppa) is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, as evidenced by archaeological finds of the Stone Age, confirming the existence of life on this earth 100 thousand years ago.
Istaravshan, by its geographical location, is located in the north of Tajikistan, 1045 meters above sea level, the population is 190 thousand. The city has changed its name several times over the centuries. Based on the primary sources of the thinkers of Ancient Greece Stranom, Arian, K. Kurtsy, Ruf and others, modern scientists and archaeologists have proved that Kiropol or Kurukada was located on the site of the current city of Istaravshan. The Persian Shah Kurush (558-530) is considered to be the founder of this city. Sources testify that Alexander the Great, having put King Cyrus to flight, turned the city into ruins for the disobedience of the inhabitants of the city.
Kiropol during the attack of Makduni was surrounded by strong impenetrable walls and fortresses, as evidenced by archaeological finds that have survived to this day.
During the wars of conquest by the Arabs, the city was called Ustrushana, about which there are many legends among the people.
In the 7th-15th centuries, Ustrushana, occupying a vast territory, was a developed and cultural center of the ancient Middle Ages. Crafts were highly developed here: blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, wood carving, jewelry making, as well as artistic crafts, etc.
Uratyubinsk wood carvers became famous all over the world. Honored Artist of the Republic Yuldoshbek Barotbekov in 1957 at the World Exhibition in Paris was awarded a gold medal.
Istaravshan gold embroiderers have gained fame all over the world with their colorful ornaments and skillful embroidery, and today their products are an adornment of any home. There are a lot of skilled craftsmen in our city: chintz spinners, potters, cutlers, etc.
The chintz woven by Miramin Saidov, the whistles of the late usto Gafur, now his sons and grandchildren continue his work, have gained fame in many countries of the world. A wonderful craftsman, People's Artist of the Republic Abdumannon Khuseinov amazes everyone with his talent for making fabulous daggers and sabers.
On the territory of ancient Istaravshan there are 150 historical and ethnographic cultural monuments.
Particular attention is drawn to such historical monuments as Chilhujra, the fortresses of Kakh-kakha, Nurteppa, the obelisk of Haji Abdukadir in the village of Pojindak (XV-XVI), three hills (Tal, Mug, Kallamanora), the Kukgumbaz madrasah, the mosques of Khazrati Shoh, Bobotago, Sari Mazor, Khavzi Sangin, Chahor Gumbaz and others.
Among the sights of the city you can also name: the ancient settlement of Mug-teppa, the Childukhtaron fortress, the Khudoyor Balami mausoleum, the Chorgumbaz ensemble, the 5-residential houses of Khaidar Rakhmatov, Abdullo Shamsiyev and others. Many of them were restored on the eve of the anniversary of the city.
At the end of the 14th - beginning of the 15th centuries, Istaravshan was ruled by the Timurid family dynasty, and then the city began to be called Uroteppa - which means the city behind the hill.
On October 2, 1866, the Uroteppa fortress was taken by Russian troops.
At the initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Sharifovich Rakhmonov, the ancient name of Istaravshan was returned to the city.
The main economic sources of the city are the light and food industries.
The agriculture of the region is focused mainly on the cultivation of grain, potatoes, fruits and melons and vegetables. There are canning and wine factories. In 2000, the joint venture "Obi Zulol" was put into operation for the production of soft drinks and mineral water. This pure flavored drink at the world exhibition in the USA among 187 countries was awarded the Gold Medal for taste and quality.
There are more than 18 industrial enterprises in the city, such as a technological center, JSC "Surush", JSC "Fayz", JSC "Neksoz" and others, producing the necessary goods for the people.
Istaravshan has been famous for its market (bazaar) since ancient times, in the development of which the Great Silk Road, which once passed through the center of this region, played a big role. During the formation of market relations, the Istaravshans regained their former glory of merchants and businessmen, and now the city is one of the major centers of commerce not only in Central Asia, but also in the Middle East.
The city has a monument to the soldiers who died in the Great Patriotic War, commemorative plates have been erected to soldiers-internationalists. The Museum of History and Local Lore, the Museum of Writers of Istaravshan function. With great pleasure, the guests of the city get acquainted with the personal libraries of Akbar Bobodzhaev, Tadzhinisso Abduzhalilova, the home ethnographic museum of the teacher Dzhalilov Muhammadi.
Every year everything is prettier and the city is growing. New buildings appear, a Women's Health Center is opened, a shopping center is expanding.
Vocational school No. 14, a medical school, a house of pioneers, general education schools, lyceums, etc. operate in the city.
Not far from the city is the Katta-Sai reservoir with a displacement of 55 million cubic meters. In the lowland of the reservoir, in a wonderful place, there is a boarding house and a sanatorium "Uroteppa", which is not inferior to the health resorts of the Crimea and the Caucasus. People with cardiovascular diseases and hypertension are treated here.
Sanatorium "Khavatag", located 20 km from the city, is famous for its healing, hot, curative water, curing skin and therapeutic diseases.
Istaravshan has been famous for its talented poets, writers, scientists and artists from time immemorial.
Residents of the city are proud that their compatriot Ulmas Mirsaidov is the President of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. 6 people in the city are members of the Union of Writers of Tajikistan. 4 newspapers are published, and two local TV studios go on the air.
Also in the city of Istaravshan, the first memorial to the memory of the dead liquidators of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on the territory of the Republic was erected.