Kashmir: Handicrafts Worth Gold
Fathoming about Kashmir evokes scenes of sublime beauty, from the green carpeted meadows and snowy mountains to the pristine rivers and the warm, welcoming people and their rich culture. The word about Kashmir’s natural beauty and its exquisite Kashmiri handicraft winter keepsakes has spread to all corners of the world.
The unique thing which rather has not reached the ears of many people happens to be the special arts and crafts of the valley. These Kashmiri handicrafts represent the history, culture and traditions of the locals in Kashmir.
About The Blog
This blog is a creation of Kashmir Online, a reliable travel services partner. In this blog, we will be exploring some unique and valuable Kashmiri handicrafts. We will check out the winter craft workshops, and making winter souvenirs.
Introduction
Kashmiri handicrafts stand out from the rest of the handicrafts of the world. Being a result of historical influences and needs of the people, these handicrafts prove a special magic of the hands of the skilled craftsmen.
High in quality and remarked for their intricateness, these make a cultural symbol of Kashmir. History says that most of the crafts that are visible in Kashmir have been brought by a group of craftsmen from the Middle East by order of King Zain ul Abideen.
Kangri
An earthen pot, used to fight the cold in the winter of Kashmir. This pot, covered with wickerwork, gives it a base to stand on and two handles to grab it. Kangri pot has to be filled with coal and burned to produce warmth. Back in the days, when there was no electricity, the people had this. The history of Kangri is very old, making it one of the oldest Kashmiri handicrafts.
Pashmina Shawl
This is the most famous and royal handicraft of Kashmir. The intricateness and skill-requiring process of the Pashmina shawl makes it among the most beautiful and expensive Kashmiri handicrafts. Used by the rulers and royalty of history, especially the Mughal Era speaks a lot. It is prepared from the wool of Pashmina Goat, an endemic species of mountain goat in Kashmir.
Carpet Weaving
The carpets of Kashmir are quite famous because of their high quality and beautiful artistic designs that catch the eyes of everyone. Every bit of the carpet is woven by the hands of the skilled craftsmen. These range in many sizes, produced on customized request as well. These provide warmth and are an integral part of Kashmiri culture.
Copperware
This craft takes a lot of hard work and effort from the skilled craftsmen. It is a unique item of Kashmir, where copper is beaten to give it the required shape and afterwards patterns are carved into the article to enhance the look. These come in different categories and have multiple uses. This art counts in one of the most hard work requiring Kashmiri handicrafts.
Tilla Work
This piece of work is one of the best for making winter souvenirs. The Tilla Work is a technique done on a lady’s Pheran ( a long dress worn in winter) to make it an adorable dress that looks gorgeous on women.
Involving this technique, a thread of copper or silver and even sometimes gold goes through the pheran cloth, creating different designs of the like. An intricate process and work of art, it becomes a must-buy for a female traveller.
Kashmir Haat – A Junction of Handicrafts
Kashmir Haat is a large complex with a ground located in Srinagar. This complex stands in front of Lal Chowk and has many shops that the government has given on rent. Plenty of shops showcasing different Kashmiri handicrafts stand in the complex. The Kashmir Haat also witnesses many winter craft workshops, cultural programmes and melas. A great place for exploring the Kashmiri handicrafts.
Authors Note
Making winter souvenirs with these amazing handicrafts proves a very good decision. These were some of the best handicrafts in Kashmir. I hope you like the blog. I write my blogs with love and a local touch for the readers. You may give your suggestion on the blog at my email [email protected].
Kashmir Online
Kashmir Online provides premium quality and affordable packages to Kashmir Valley. The Kashmir tour packages offered by us are unique in a way that makes a holiday turn into a deep memory. We have packages in all categories including family, romance, adventure and so on. You may check our website here.
FAQs
How can we check the authenticity of a Pashmina Shawl?
The government has provided the use of GI tags for all the original handicrafts that are genuine. You can check the GI tag of the product and know about its genuineness
What are the best cheap handicrafts to buy in Kashmir?
The best cheap handicrafts of Kashmir are Kangri, pottery items, paper mache, Jalakdozi items and small woodcraft items.
When is Kashmir Haat open?
It is open every day till 6 pm on normal days but can be open till late on special occasions.
Author is a student who loves to explore new corners of learning. He likes writing and travelling while taking challenges that question his abilities and skills. His hobbies are helping people and spending time in nature.