Nine years in the making: World’s second-largest silk carpet nears completion in Kashmir
Arshid Farooq
Kashmir, Jan 20 (KINS): After nearly a decade of meticulous labour, master weavers in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are on the verge of completing what is set to be the world’s second-largest handwoven silk carpet.
Measuring an impressive 30 feet by 72 feet, the colossal carpet has been crafted over the past nine years by a team of at least 15 master craftsmen in Wayl Kralpora village of Kunzar, around 30 kilometres from Srinagar.
With only a small portion of work remaining, the carpet is expected to be completed later this year and exported to a Gulf country.
The ambitious project began in 2016, with artisans working for nearly 10 hours a day on the intricate piece.
According to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), the order was received by carpet trader Fayaz Ahmad Shah, while the weaving has been led by seasoned craftsmen Abdul Gaffar Sheikh and his team.
“This carpet is the biggest challenge we have ever undertaken,” Gaffar told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS). “It required artistic dedication, technical innovation, and immense patience.”
Once finished, the carpet is expected to weigh around 12 quintals and contain an estimated 25 crore knots. The loom used for the project alone cost Rs 4.5 lakh. Since Kashmir did not have a loom large enough for such dimensions, engineers had to redesign and rebuild a special loom in Kunzar village to accommodate the massive carpet.
Floral motifs—hallmarks of traditional Kashmiri carpets—dominate the design, reflecting the region’s natural beauty and centuries-old weaving heritage. Once completed, cranes will be used to lift the carpet into large trawlers for transportation to Srinagar before exporting to a Gulf country.
Handwoven Kashmiri carpets date back to the 15th century, when Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin introduced Persian artisans to train local craftsmen. Renowned globally for their intricate designs and durability, these carpets remain among Kashmir’s most prized cultural exports.
“This is extremely time-consuming work,” Gaffar added. “Depending on size and complexity, a single carpet can take months or even years, demanding extraordinary skill and patience.”
Director Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir Masrat ul Islam in a post on X has praised artisans for making world’s second largest silk carpet.
Wayl Kralpora village is a major weaving hub, with around 400 households, most of whom depend on carpet weaving for their livelihood. For the artisans involved, the massive carpet is more than a commercial order—it stands as a living testament to Kashmir’s enduring craft tradition and the resilience of its skilled weavers. (KINS)
