Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet

Name: Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet
Brand: Kashmir Artisan Welfare Association

Registry facts for Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet
GI number	GI-38
Typical price	₹25,000 - ₹10,00,000
Verified cooperatives	Kashmir Artisan Welfare Association
State	Jammu & Kashmir

About Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet

The Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet is a wool or silk carpet woven in the Kashmir valley, prized for rich colours, dense knotting and elaborate designs. Patterns include floral medallions, tree-of-life motifs and Persian-inspired borders. The carpets are usually made on vertical looms in family workshops, and a fine silk piece can take several months or even years to complete.

Heritage and place

Carpet weaving arrived in Kashmir through Persian and Central Asian influence, and tradition credits the fourteenth-century Sufi scholar Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani with encouraging crafts in the valley. Over time Kashmiri weavers developed their own colour palette and design language. The GI protects hand-knotting in Kashmir from machine-made and tufted rugs sold under similar names.

How it is made

Weavers follow a coded pattern sheet called a talim, which lists knots and colours in a shorthand read aloud to the knotters. Each knot is tied by hand around the warp threads, row by row, and the weft is beaten down to lock it. The pile is trimmed and the finished piece is washed. The number of knots per square inch decides both the detail of the design and the carpet's value.

Registry record

Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet is listed in this catalogue as GI-38, a Geographical Indication tagged product of Jammu & Kashmir in the handicrafts category. The name is legally protected: only producers within the notified region may sell under it. Confirm the entry in the official GI Journal before relying on it commercially.

◈ How to spot a fake Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet

What to check

Turn the carpet over and look at the back: in a hand-knotted piece the pattern is clear and the knots are individually visible. Tufted or machine-made rugs have a latex backing or uniform grid. Ask for the knot count, materials and the weaving location. Buy from registered dealers, cooperatives or government emporia that provide a GI label and a written description, and be cautious about extreme discounts.

Pure silk or wool piled tightly over a cotton foundation with traditional Talim design codes. Look for the official QR-coded GI track label.

Price to expect

Genuine Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet typically sells in the range of ₹25,000 - ₹10,00,000. Prices far below that range are a common sign of an imitation.

Where to buy

Look for authorised sellers such as Kashmir Artisan Welfare Association, or government emporia and cooperatives in Jammu & Kashmir.

Catalogue record

Catalogue record: GI-38 · Jammu & Kashmir · reviewed 2026-10-02

Frequently asked questions

What is the GI registration number of Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet?

This catalogue lists Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet as GI-38. Registration numbers should be confirmed against the official GI Journal before commercial use.

Where is Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet made?

Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet is produced in Jammu & Kashmir, in the handicrafts category of this catalogue.

Can Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet legally be made outside Jammu & Kashmir?

No. GI protection means only producers within the notified region of Jammu & Kashmir may legally sell goods under the name “Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet”.

What does genuine Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet cost?

Genuine Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet typically sells in the range of ₹25,000 - ₹10,00,000. Prices far below this range are a common sign of an imitation.

How can I spot a fake Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet?

Pure silk or wool piled tightly over a cotton foundation with traditional Talim design codes. Look for the official QR-coded GI track label.

Where should I buy genuine Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet?