Kashmiri carpets are globally counted among the world’s finest handcrafted heirlooms, made from refined silks and wool by nimble-fingered craftsmen of the Valley. Without any printed history, the intricate designs are created through orally passed knowledge or handwritten taalim (learning) on patterns, ways of weaving and dyeing yarn.

Each hand-knotted carpet uses indigenous wool or silk in jewel tones. They sometimes feature 3,600 knots per square inch. It takes weeks, sometimes months, of meticulous craftsmanship by one or more artisans to finish one piece.

Kashmir emerged as a prominent carpet-weaving hub in the 15th century. Later, influenced by the work of skilled Persian weavers, it flourished in the 17th century during the Mughal rule. Kashmiri carpets are among the best examples of Indian cultural heritage, with their intricate borders, paisleys, forest and flower designs inspired by Mughal motifs, hand-woven Jamawar shawls, and Ladakhi tribal influences.

These highly sought after carpets got a fresh lease of life when new weaving centres were set up in places like Srinagar, Anantnag, Bandipora, Budgam, Pulwama, and others after Independence. Despite years of instability in the region, Kashmir’s artisans carry on the centuries-old legacy.

The erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir government established a Geographical Indication (GI) registry. Each exported Kashmiri carpet has a QR code that provides information on its material and details of the artisan, as they find their way to over 25 countries. In 2021, the Indian Postal Service commemorated these Kashmiri weaves through a beautiful postage stamp.

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