Guide to Buying the Best Rugs in India

'I do not like rugs', said no person ever. These pretty woven fabric things make your room vibrant, warm and cozy. So what’s not to love! Indian rugs are also known as Dhurries and they come in materials such as cotton, jute, wool, silk and a variety of interesting weaves, patterns, sizes and colours. Here, we take you through some of the places in India known for their dhurries or rugs.

Panja rugs - Rajasthan

This state in India is handicraft central. And when it comes to hand-made rugs and dhurries, there’s a little nondescript town called Salawas, which is where the magic happens. This town, located some 22km from Jodhpur (famous for the Mehrangarh Fort), is well-known for what has come to be known as Panja Dhurries. Making these obviously involves a lot of hard work. The weavers sit in deep pits and use their feet for weaving these rugs. They were earlier called Jatpatti rugs and were woven using coarse camel hair and used as saddle bags, in tents, and so on. Over the years, these weavers also started using cotton fibre to make these dhurries and these were initially sold in the domestic market. Now, though, these are exported to various countries. These rugs are known as Panja, because of the comb-like tool called the Panja that the weavers use while making them. Most of these rugs are layered with multiple coloured yarns and patterns, so they are reversible, with weaves on both sides. Want to give your room a makeover? Start by simply flipping the carpet.

Sitapur rugs - Uttar Pradesh

Another important centre for hand-woven rugs or dhurries is the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Khairabad, a small town in this state, is famous for its Sitapur dhurries (Citapore rugs). These rugs are made of cotton primarily and horizontal looms are used for weaving them. The patterns can vary from plain multi-coloured stripes to other interesting designs laid out horizontally. Khairabad is essentially a weaver’s paradise, and a majority of people in the town are weavers or farmers. Sitapur is the name of the district where the town of Khairabad is located. Rugs made here are exported and many large international brands – in the field of home décor and furnishings – source their rugs from this tiny town. Bhadohi, another hub for hand-knotted carpets, is also located in this state; it is called the Carpet City and almost all its products are meant for export to Western countries. Bhadohi is even said to be the largest hand-knotted carpet weaving industry in all of South Asia.

Kilims - Kashmir

The northernmost state of India is as well-known for its handicrafts and rugs as it is for its natural beauty. In Kashmir, one can find several markets selling what is called Kilim, a Persian rug. Although Persian in origin, kilims have been used for centuries across Central Asia and parts of Europe, as floor coverings. Most of these kilims have jewel tones – ruby red, sapphire blue, and so on, and the patterns reflect the nomadic lives of the artisans who make them. Made usually of wool or a silk blend, the patterns in these kilims draw from nature and have birds, animals, trees, and so on, and is an integral part of every Kashmiri household.

If you want a slice of India on your carpet, make sure to check out Satara’s range of Indian rugs.

Image Sources:

By Dainis Matisons from Mezares, Latvia, EU (India by Dainis Matisons Uploaded by Ekabhishek) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

By vipin goyal (durries in salawas) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

By BerndtF (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons