The craze for Cricket in India is next to Godly admiration. No other sports come close to the passion people preserve in their hearts for the love of cricket in India. And so it is obvious when kids to older people swing their bat at any chance despite inaccessible facilities like lack of playground space, poor infrastructure, or plastic paddles. So, while it is evident to them in what cricket world they live in, they don’t know these quaint little villages in South Kashmir from where the stack of big dreams is born. 

For cricket enthusiasts, the existence of these places is enough to send them on a trip to Kashmir. After all, renowned cricket players such as Sachin Tendulkar, M.S. Dhoni, Vivian Richards, and Yuvraj Singh have previously played with Kashmir willow bats. Exposure to these superior bats to the outside world has helped increase demand, which is a big boost for the local business and employment generation. 

Where Do Professional Bats Come From? Kashmir Willow Cricket Bats

Willow wood is commonly used in the production of cricket bats because it is light and flexible. The estimate says that nearly 90% of cricket bats in India are made from Kashmiri willow and are priced at a cheaper rate than English willow bats because of less exposure, recognition and developed sectors. There are more than 400 factories that make cricket bats, which involve more than 300 families around the neighbouring villages and directly employ roughly 8000-10000 people.

Kashmir region is famous for producing high-quality handcrafted bats and cricket is like a festive bonanza among local lads. With the growing traction among tourists, it is soon set on the path to becoming a global product. And now, with the boom of Kashmir tourism, you can visit the places where the bats used by world-class professionals are manufactured. These South Kashmiri villages are:

Bijbehara

Bijbehara lies approximately 53 km southeast of Srinagar in Kashmir. The town is known for its popular willow bats and for being the home to the oldest Chinar tree. The region is famously known as the “Town of Chinars” and houses two Chinar gardens – Paadshahi Bagh & Dara Shikoh Garden. There also exists an ancient Shiva temple Vijayeshwara, by the town’s former name. 

Charsoo Awantipora

The village is located approximately 41 km from the capital city of Srinagar in the Pulwama district of Kashmir. The town lies on the banks of the Jhelum River and is well-connected with the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. While visiting the village for willow bats, you can also visit Avantishwer Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Hallamulla

Further ahead of Awantipora lies Hallamulla in the Anantnag district of Kashmir, approximately 45 km from Srinagar. The village has long been manufacturing Industrial bats with best bat manufacturing process and is famous for the same, viz. Producing high-quality sports goods, including willow bats.

Sangam

Sangam bat village in the district Anantnag lies 2 km ahead of Hallamulla. So, if you, for some reason, missed out on visiting Hallamulla village, you can always stop by Sangam village via NH 44 to shop for the famous Kashmir bats. A unit has been set up, enabling the workers to use modern techniques for manufacturing world-class willow bats.

Pujteng 

An hour’s drive from Srinagar at approximately 52 km distance will lead you to Khan International Sports at Pujiteng Sangam village in South Kashmir. The address falls on highway NH 44. The shop offers great quality cricket sports goods. Along the highway, you will see many sports shops selling quality cricket bats.

Mirzapur 

Mirzapur district in South Kashmir is not well-known as of now but is listed on the name of villages for having a cricket bat manufacturing facility. The little to no information on this place hints at how much efforts need to be undertaken to highlight these bat industry units and many others like them to boost the sector.

Seth

Sethar village in Sangam, Anantnag, is located approximately 45 km from Srinagar. The willow woods are hard pressed and traditionally shaped before finished products enter the market. Last year, the Skill Development Department (SDD) inaugurated the bat crafting course at Sethar to train the workforce and enhance their skills. 

These villages mainly fall in the Anantnag and Pulwama districts of Kashmir. Keen towards promoting these industries, the government has offered registration certificates to the owners of bat manufacturing facilities in the following two districts and extended all the benefits needed to solidify the industry. The government is also educating bat manufacturers on GI tagging through field officers and offering support to create awareness. This will help identify authentic Kashmiri-origin bats and craft a brand of Kashmiri-made goods on a global platform.