The stalls of Kokand bazaars are bursting with juicy fruits and vegetables of the fertile Fergana Valley. Varieties of large Ferghana grapes are particularly diverse. Rows with hundreds of spices exude dizzying aromas. Here you can find real Iranian saffron, specific Indian spices like Himalayan salt, Chinese and Korean spices. The rows with sweets – dried figs, raisins, persimmons – are equally tempting.
Piles of patterned skullcaps, hanging Uzbek robes and brightly colored women’s outfits attract attention. Take a closer look at marvelously beautiful fabrics with silk embroidery in the technique of suzaneh – an ancient Persian art. Decorative suzaneh with plant and floral motifs will decorate your bedroom or living room, reminding you of your trip to sunny Kokand. You can buy painted ceramic dishes, a large dish for pilaf, original household utensils as a souvenir.
Since the times of Silk Road caravan drivers, it is customary to bargain at Kokand markets. In oriental culture, bazaar haggling is a part of communication between seller and buyer, giving pleasure to both sides of a small transaction. With the help of conversation one can bring down the price of goods at least twice.
Istiklol Street is the main shopping artery of Kokand. On both sides of the highway there are stores, branded boutiques, souvenir stores, café-candy shops. There are several large shopping centers in the city. The largest of them is Kokand Shopping Mall, open daily from 08:00 to 22:00.
