General Informations of Jammu

Area 20.36 sq.kms
Altitude 305 m
Temperature
Summer
Winter Max Min
43.0 C 23.4 C
26.2 C 4.3 C
Rainfall 107 cms (July to September).
Best Season September to April.
Clothing Summer: light cottons
Winter: woollens
Population 6,98,674 (as per Census 2001)
Languages Dogri, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and English

A Houseboat displaying rich tapestry of handicrafts

From the amusing trinket to a collector's item, you'll find it all in Srinagar. Row upon row of shops filled with handicrafts line the streets. The array is awesome. There are objects to suit every pocket, for the variety within each craft is wide.

A papier machie samovar

Kashmir Travel India handicrafts are prized everywhere for their exquisite craftsmanship. Kashmir carpets, in both wool and silk with their Persian design, are a lifetime investment and the shoppers' selection range from the simple to the most extraordinarily intricate patterns handed down the generations Kashmir Travel Packages India.

Then there are papier-mâché items ranging from jewellery boxes to mirror frames, a range of intricately carved walnut wood furniture and accessories, stone jewellery boxes, beautiful woollen shawls, crewel embroidery on furnishing material sold by the meter and more.

Following is a brief description of the main handicraft legacy of Kashmir:

Namdas

Farless expensive are these colourful floor coverings made from woollen and cotton fibre which have been manually pressed into shape. Prices vary with the percentage of wool - a namda containing 80 per cent wool being more expensive than the one containing 20 per cent wool. Chain-stitch embroidery in woollen and cotton thread is executed on these rugs.

All the embroidery is executed on white cotton fabric, pre-shrunk by the manufacturers. The intrinsic worth of each piece lies in the sizes of the stitches and the yarn used. Crewel artisans at work Tiny stitches are used to cover the entire area - the figures or motifs are worked in striking colours; the background in a single colour, made up of a series of coin sized concentric circles which impart dynamism and a sense of movement to the design. Stitches ought to be small, even sized and neat. The background fabric should not be visible through the stitches.

Crewel is basically similar to chain stitch. It is also chain stitch done on white background, but here the motifs, mainly stylised flowers, do not cover the entire surface, and the background is not embroidered upon.

Saffron, Walnuts, Almonds, Honey

Pampore, near Srinagar, is the only place in the world besides Spain where saffron is grown.

Saffron flowers

The crocus sativus plant, which blooms for a brief month in the year, has six golden stamens and one crimson one. It is the crimson stamen which when collected and dried that forms saffron and is referred to as the most expensive spice in the world. Sealed jars of this spice, with the government laboratory's stamp of approval, are available all over Srinagar. When buying loose saffron, sampling one strand is enough, for the flavour and fragrance of saffron are unmistakable.

The climate of Kashmir is ideal for walnut and almond trees, which grow here in abundance. Natural honey too, is a produce of the apiaries, which abound in the state.

Basketry

Willow rushes that grow plentifully in marshes and lakes in Kashmir are used to make charmingly quaint objects, ranging from shopping baskets and lampshades to tables and chairs, all generally inexpensive. To increase their life span, unvarnished products should be chosen and frequently sprayed with water, particularly in hot, dry climates, to prevent them becoming brittle.

Wood Carving

Kashmir is the only part of India where the walnut tree grows. Its colour, grains and inherent sheen are unique and unmistakable, and the carving and fret- work that is done on this wood is of a very superior quality.