The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan approved a bill to officially rename the city of Jalal-Abad to Manas. The law was signed by the President on September 18, 2025, and will come into effect ten days after its official publication. The change is aimed at strengthening national ideology and honoring the national hero, Manas. One of
Kyrgyzstan's main branches of the
Silk Road passed through Jalalabat and the region has played host to travelers for thousands of years, although few archaeological remains are visible today – except in some of the more remote parts of the region – such as
Saimalu Tash and the
Chatkal valley. These have included travelers, traders, tourists and pilgrims (to the various holy sights) and sick people visiting the curative spas such as in the
Ayub Tau mountain, at the altitude of 700 m above sea level some three kilometers out of town. There is a legend that the water from the
Azreti-Ayup-Paygambar (the Prophet Job) spa cured lepers. According to the legend there was a grave, a mosque and the khan's palace near the spa.
-abad is a
Persian suffix often used in city names in
Persianate societies to refer to the person who founded the community. It is said that Jalalabat was named after
Jalal ad Din, who was renowned for setting up
Caravanserais to serve travelers and many
pilgrims who came to the holy mountain. In early 19th century a small
Kokand fortress was built, and a small
kishlak grew up around this. The local people were engaged in agriculture and trade and provided services to the
pilgrims visiting the spas. Then, in the 1870s, Russian settlers came to the region. They set up a garrison town and military hospital. ==Population==