There are only few places in
the World that can boast a 260 year history. This is the modern of one of
the oldest towns in Tajikistan. Kulob is located 580 meters above the sea
level and its population reaches 200 000 . Ancient City of Kulob is linked
with the Republican capital Dushanbe by a mountain road 202 km long.
Many
years ago Kulob was a part of the Hatlon State or region with a similar name
|Hutalon or Hutal|.
The ancient Hatlon was located between two noble rivers Piandj and Vakhsh .
Khaytulids the ancestors of the Hatlonians already had strong state .In 725
AD Hatlonians delivered a fatal blow to the Arab army led by Horasan Asad
ibn Abdulla. in the battle at the salt mountain Magaton |Hujja Mumin|.
The population of Balh welcomed the defeated Arabs with sarcastic verse
which became one of the first known folk Persian-Tajik poems:
Az Huttalon omadia
Baru taboh omadia
obor bor omadia
Hushkinizor omadia.
During
the rule of the Samanids in 9th-10th centuries Hatlon was strong and
independent region .
In 1063-1064 Alp Arslan Saltchuki invaded Huttal destroyed and demolished
the Hulbuk Fortress located 30km away from Kulob . Thus Kulob became the new
capital of Hatlon. Archeological research on the territory of Kulob
demonstrated the toen was growing inside and around a fortress , which was
destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1220-1221.
Later the fortress was restored and attacked again in 1258 by the army of
Abdullokhan Shaiboni . You can visit our historical monument "Kalia", which
located on one of the streets of Kulob
Kulob
was first mentioned in the Persian literature at the begining of 16th
century . This description can be found in manuscript by Hofiz Tanish
Bukhoron , titled 'Sharafnomai Shohon'.
The manuscript depicts Kulob as a beautiful town with a huge fortress, wide
enforced walls and three gates. One could enter or exit the town in the
North through the Chorsu Gate , in the West from Imam Ali gate , and in the
South-Durab -ul-Haivon gate.
Kulob was connected with outside world by three roads going in different
directions and linking the town to the town to Hatlon-Mulnk,Vashgird,Kangurt*(Nova:
Soviet district), Muminobod, DashtiKugal and Chorsu.
In the 1747 the Bukhar Khanate, including Hatlon, was overtaken by the
Mangites. In 1750 the first Khan of this family, Mukhammed Rahimkhon,
introduced Hatlon to the crown of the tzarist Bukhara. Starting from this
period Hatlon was called as Kulob and territory of Hatlon became a Kulob
community.
At the begining of the 19th century ,Khan of Kunduz and Khan of Kokand
started a conflict disputing their claims to Kulob .In 1832 Khan of Kunduz
took over Kulob and completely destroyed it. In the second half of 19th
century the new Khakim of Kulob and Baldjuvon , by the name of sarabek,
particularly rebuilt the town . In 1870Emir Muzaffar introduced Kulob into
the Bukhar Emirate. After this event Kulob became th center of Begii Kulob.
Despite the tumultuous history and the fact that the town ravaged numerous
times Kulob not only preserved its original image ,but also managed to
continue its development .At the beginning of the 20th century the town had
17 makhals, craftsmen represented the most significant social strat among
the town residents. They were building new houses and producing consumer
goods.
On the March 15, 1921 the Red army entered Kulob ,and established the Soviet
Authority there. During the Soviet times Kulob was proclaimed as the center
of the Kulob region three times. For the last time - February 1990 to
November 1992. Modern Kulob hosts construction companies and road
maintenance agencies, a sewing factory transportation companies, meat and
dairy plants, cotton factories etc. Kulob has a Music and Drama Theater ,
fine and performing arts schools, a Technical College, a Medical School, a
Botanical Garden which including thousands of plants all around the world,
two big Baazar are existing in the city of Kulob and a branch of the State
University.
Streets and squares of Kulob are aborted with statues and monuments . The
oldest one of them is the tomb of the greatest philosopher of the orient Mir
Said Ali Hamadoni, which was built in 1384.
There are many monuments in honor of the Civil War and Great Patriotic
Warheros in Kulob . After Tajikistan was pronounced an independence Republic
Kulob continues to grow and expand.
The last couple of the years turned out to be the most favorable period for
the town. Constant attention of the President Mr.Emomali Sharipovich
Rahmonov turned Kulob into one of the most advanced towns in the Tajikistan.
On November 17, 1998 the new International airport started to operate, which
is the biggest airport in the Tajikistan, a new Hospital of Infectious
Disease opened. On January 30, 1999 the new Kulob-Darvaz-Kulma-Karakum-China
Highway started operating, which is called Silk road in ancient times. This
is the biggest project in the Tajikistan by completing this realtion with
China will be establish . In same time economic relation with China will be
good point to Tajik economy, in other way there will be open the options of
relations with other neighbor countries.
With the opening of the carpet complex and a textile and silk factory the
town created numerous workplaces during the pervious years.
On
March 21, 1998 (NavruzDay)the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmonov
placed the first brick in the foundations of the railroad station of the new
full gauge railroad KhurganTube-Kulob. The first train passed the station on
September 17, 1999. Today Kulob has a new life and and it is prosperity is
reflected in the wonderful park named after Ismoili Somoni.
