North Kashmir Artisans Near Completion of World’s Second-Largest Handwoven Silk Carpet | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: After nearly a decade of painstaking labour, master weavers in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are close to completing what is expected to be the world’s second-largest handwoven silk carpet, a monumental achievement in the region’s centuries-old craft tradition.

Measuring an extraordinary 30 feet by 72 feet, the colossal carpet has been woven over the past nine years by a team of at least 15 master craftsmen in Wayl Kralpora village of Kunzar, about 30 kilometres from Srinagar. With only a small portion of work remaining, the carpet is likely 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. The weaving has been led by veteran craftsman Abdul Gaffar Sheikh and his team, who describe the carpet as the most demanding assignment of their careers.

Once finished, the carpet is expected to weigh around 12 quintals and contain an estimated 25 crore knots. The technical challenges were immense. Kashmir did not have a loom large enough to support such dimensions, prompting engineers to redesign and rebuild a special loom in Kunzar village at a cost of about Rs 4.5 lakh.

The design is dominated by elaborate floral motifs—hallmarks of traditional Kashmiri carpets, reflecting the region’s natural landscape and refined aesthetic heritage. Due to its massive size and weight, cranes will be used to lift the carpet onto large trawlers for transportation to Srinagar, from where it will be shipped abroad.

The achievement has drawn official appreciation as well. Director Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir, Masrat ul Islam, has praised the artisans for producing what is set to become the world’s second-largest silk carpet.

Wayl Kralpora village remains a major weaving hub, with around 400 households, most of them dependent on carpet weaving for their livelihood. For the artisans involved, the massive carpet is not merely a commercial commission but a powerful symbol of Kashmir’s enduring craft legacy and the resilience, skill, and patience of its master weavers.

(With KINS inputs)