Quick Answer
The best-known Kashmiri crafts are Pashmina shawls, hand-knotted silk and wool carpets, needle embroidery (sozni, aari and tilla), papier-mache, walnut wood carving, copperware, namda felt rugs and khatamband wooden ceilings. Several carry a Geographical Indication tag, including Kashmir Pashmina, Sozani, Kani shawls, papier-mache, walnut wood carving, khatamband and hand-knotted carpets. Buy from established shops, ask for the GI label or a written description of the material, and never let a tout or a driver choose the shop for you. Srinagar's Old City, Polo View, Residency Road and Lal Chowk are the main shopping areas.
Kashmir trips with a free afternoon in Srinagar's Old City
Most of these crafts are made in homes and small workshops in and around Srinagar, often by families who have done the same work for generations. Knowing what each craft involves explains the price, and makes it much easier to tell honest work from a machine-made copy.
Pashmina and shawls
Pashmina is the fine underfleece of the Changthangi goat of the Ladakh plateau, spun and woven by hand in Kashmir. Real Pashmina is light, warm and soft, and a plain stole is not cheap. Blends with silk or wool are honest products when sold as blends; the problem is machine-made acrylic or viscose sold as Pashmina. Kani shawls are woven with small wooden bobbins (kanis) and take months; sozni shawls are hand-embroidered.
- Pashmina from Kashmir: how to tell real from fake, and what genuine craft costs.
- Real Pashmina vs fake: the checks to do before you buy.
Carpets and floor coverings
Kashmiri carpets are hand-knotted in silk, wool or a mix, following a coded pattern called a talim. Knot density, material and size set the price. Namda rugs are felted wool embroidered in chain stitch, a craft centred on Sopore, and gabba rugs are made from recycled woollen blankets.
- How to buy an authentic Kashmiri carpet: knots, materials, labels and shipping.
- Namda: the felted wool rugs of Sopore.
Embroidery and weaving
- Kashmiri embroidery: a complete guide to aari, sozni and tilla work.
- Sozni: how to spot real hand needlework and where to buy it.
- Tilla daraz: gold-thread embroidery that takes a season to finish.
- Crewel work: the chain-stitch art on houseboat furnishings and cushions.
- Kimskhwab: the gold and silver brocade of the Old City.
Wood, metal and papier-mache
- Papier-mache: the painted lacquer art of kar-i-kalamdani.
- Walnut wood carving: the art beneath the surface.
- Khatamband: interlocking wooden ceilings and where to see them.
- Copper craft: the engraved and tinned metalwork of old Srinagar.
- Silver filigree: fine wire jewellery from Old City workshops.
- Willow wicker: the craft behind cricket bats and reed baskets.
Where to shop in Srinagar
Polo View, Residency Road and Lal Chowk have the established craft and shawl shops. The Old City around Zaina Kadal and Maharaj Gunj is where many crafts are still made and sold. On Dal Lake, floating vendors sell by shikara; prices start high and are meant to be bargained. Government emporiums sell at fixed prices and are a useful benchmark.
- Shopping in Srinagar: where locals buy, what to buy and how not to overpay.
- Srinagar's local bazaars: what the markets actually look like.
- Kashmiri handicrafts: the living arts of a mountain civilisation.
- Dry fruits and saffron: food gifts, and what to pay for them.
Five checks before you pay
- 1Choose the shop yourself. A driver, boatman or stranger who insists on a particular shop is usually paid a commission that ends up in your price.
- 2Ask for the GI label on Pashmina, Kani and Sozani shawls and hand-knotted carpets, and keep it with the invoice.
- 3Get the material in writing. "Pure Pashmina", "silk on silk" or "wool on cotton" should appear on the bill, with the price.
- 4Compare at a fixed-price emporium before buying anything expensive.
- 5For shipping, get a written invoice with the item, size, price and delivery terms, and pay by card or bank transfer so the payment is traceable.
Plan Srinagar time that leaves room for the Old City
Tell us your dates. We plan the sightseeing, hotels and private cab, and leave a free afternoon for shopping where you choose the shops.
Further reading from Kashmir Pulse
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- Sufiana Kalam: Kashmir's Ancient Sufi Classical Music Tradition
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- Badamwari Garden, Srinagar: Kashmir's Almond Garden Below Hari Parbat
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- Which SIM Works in Kashmir? Prepaid, Postpaid and Tourist SIMs Explained
Which SIM works in Kashmir: why prepaid SIMs from outside Jammu and Kashmir do not work, why postpaid does, how tourists and foreigners can...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kashmir famous for buying?
Pashmina and Kani shawls, hand-knotted carpets, sozni and tilla embroidery, papier-mache, walnut wood carving, copperware, saffron and dry fruits.
How can I tell if a Pashmina is real?
Real Pashmina is very light, soft and warm, and an honest seller will describe the material in writing and can show a GI label. Machine-perfect weaves, a shiny synthetic feel and very low prices are warning signs.
Where is the best place to shop in Srinagar?
Polo View, Residency Road and Lal Chowk for established shops, the Old City for workshops and traditional crafts, and government emporiums for fixed prices to compare against.
Do Kashmiri crafts have GI tags?
Yes. Kashmir Pashmina, Sozani, Kani shawls, papier-mache, walnut wood carving, khatamband, hand-knotted carpets and saffron carry Geographical Indication tags.
Should I let my driver take me shopping?
Choose the shop yourself. Drivers and guides are often paid a commission by shops they bring guests to, and that cost is added to your price.
Written by Via Kashmir Editorial Team
Last checked November 2026
Via Kashmir is a Srinagar-based travel company built around one goal: giving travellers the best possible Kashmir experience. Our team puts together the best-priced hotels, cabs, Kashmir tour packages, and adventure packages with real sports activities, drawing on daily, on-the-ground knowledge of Kashmir's roads, weather, and seasons. Every guide on this site is written and checked by our local Srinagar team.