Jalal-Abad

Jalalabat (an aa spelled Dzhalal-Abad, Djalal-Abad an Jalal-Abad; Kyrgyz: Жалалабат [dʒɑlɑlɑbɑt]) is the admeenistrative an economic center o the Jalal-Abad Province in soothwastren Kyrgyzstan, wi a population o aboot 150,000. It is situatit at the north-eastren end o the Fergana valley alang the Kugart river valley, in the fuithills o the Babash Ata muntains, vera close tae Uzbekistan border. Twa thirds o the population are Uzbek.

Jalalabat is kent for its mineral springs in its surroondins, an the watter frae the nearbi Hozret-Ayub-Paigambar spa wis lang believed tae cure lepers. Several Soviet era sanatoriums affer mineral watter treatment programs for fowk wi various chronic diseases. Bottled mineral watter frae the region is sauld aroond the kintra an abroad.

History

Ane o Kyrgyzstan's main branches o the Silk Road passed throu Jalalabat an the region haes played host tae travelers for thoosans o years, awtho little airchaeological remains are visible the day – except in some o the mair remote pairts o the region – sic as Saimalu Tash an the Chatkal valley. Thir hae includit travelers, traders, tourists an pilgrims (tae the various holy sichts) an sick fowk visitin the curative spas sic as in the Ayub Tau muntain, at the altitude o 700 m abuin sea level some three kilometers oot o toun.

Thare is a legend that the watter frae the Hozret-Ayub-Paigambar spa cured lepers. Accordin tae the legend thare wis a grave, a mosque an the khan's palace near the spa.

Abad is aften uised in Asian ceeties names tae refer tae the body who foondit the community. It is said that Jalalabat wis named efter Jalal ad Din, who wis renouned for settin up Caravanserais tae serve travelers an mony pilgrims who came tae the holy muntain.

In early 19t century a sma Kokand fortress wis biggit, an a sma kishlak grew up aroond this. The local fowk wur engaged in agricultur, tred an providit services tae the pilgrims visitin the spas. Then, in the 1870s, Roushie migrants came tae the region. Thay set up a garrison toun an military hospital.

Economy

The railwey (a rarity in Kyrgyzstan), runs frae the Ferghana Valley northeast aboot 30 km tae Kökjanggak.

Biggest Companies: Kyrgyz-Canadae JV "Kyrgyz Petroleum Company", АО «Kelechek», АО «Nur». AOZT «KyrgyzChlopok», JV «Ak-Altyn» process cotton. Thare are an aa tobacco-fermantaion companies «Tura-Ai» ltd an «Aziz-Tabak» ltd. 90 % o thair ootput hae been exportit tae 17 kintras. Thare are an aa mill hooses АО «Azrat Ayib», AOZT PTK «Intershaq», «Mariam & Co» ltd, an liquer production company AOZT «Jalalabat Arak Zavodu».

The Peace Corps is vera active in the region; volunteers serve in the eddication an sma business sectors.

Map

• OpenStreetMap