Weaving centres
311 towns and clusters where sarees are woven, dyed, printed and embroidered, with a trail idea for each.
North India
Uttar Pradesh, 5 sareesVaranasiThe city on the Ganga whose silk brocades, woven with gold and silver thread, are the best known sarees of northern India.India, 3 sareesAurangabadUttar Pradesh, 3 sareesLucknowThe city of chikankari, the fine white-on-white needlework worked on muslin, cotton and georgette sarees.Delhi, 2 sareesDelhiThe capital is less a weaving town than a meeting place, where sarees from every state are sold, shown in museums and worn at national events.India, 2 sareesMirzapurIndia, 2 sareesRampurIndia, 1 sareeAgraIndia, 1 sareeAligarhIndia, 1 sareeAmbalaIndia, 1 sareeAzamgarhPakistan, 1 sareeBahawalpurIndia, 1 sareeBareillyIndia, 1 sareeBhadohiIndia, 1 sareeChandauliIndia, 1 sareeChowkPakistan, 1 sareeFaisalabadIndia, 1 sareeFarrukhabadPakistan, 1 sareeGujranwalaIndia, 1 sareeHoshiarpurIndia, 1 sareeJaipurIndia, 1 sareeJallandharIndia, 1 sareeJaunpurIndia, 1 sareeJodhpurIndia, 1 sareeKangraIndia, 1 sareeKanihamaIndia, 1 sareeKashmirPakistan, 1 sareeLahorePakistan, 1 sareeMultanIndia, 1 sareeNathdwaraIndia, 1 sareePanipatPakistan, 1 sareeThattaIndia, 1 sareeUdaipurPunjab, 0 sareesAmritsarThe Sikh holy city is a market for phulkari, the bright floss-silk embroidery of Punjab, now also worked on sarees.India, 0 sareesKaithoonIndia, 0 sareesKinnaurIndia, 0 sareesKotaHimachal Pradesh, 0 sareesKulluThe valley of Kullu shawls, woven wool wraps with bright geometric borders, worn in the hills as a wrapped dress and as a shawl.India, 0 sareesMauUttar Pradesh, 0 sareesMubarakpurA weavers' town in Azamgarh district, east of Varanasi, long known for plain and patterned silk and for Banarasi sarees woven in homes.Jammu and Kashmir, 0 sareesSrinagarThe valley city of Kashmir shawls: kani weaving, pashmina and fine needle embroidery, now also made into sarees.
West India
Maharashtra, 3 sareesPaithanAn old town on the Godavari in Maharashtra, the original home of the Paithani, a silk sari with a woven peacock and lotus pallu.Gujarat, 3 sareesPatanA town in north Gujarat, the home of the Patola, a double ikat silk sari in which both warp and weft are tied and dyed.Gujarat, 3 sareesSuratGujarat's great textile city, which makes much of India's synthetic saris and has long been a centre for zari thread and brocade.India, 2 sareesAnjarIndia, 2 sareesBhujIndia, 2 sareesMandviIndia, 1 sareeAhmadabadIndia, 1 sareeBharuchIndia, 1 sareeBhujodiIndia, 1 sareeDaulatabadIndia, 1 sareeDedaraIndia, 1 sareeDeesaIndia, 1 sareeGodavariGujarat, 1 sareeJamnagarA city in Saurashtra, Gujarat, known for its bandhani, the tie-dye in which cloth is knotted into tiny dots before dyeing.India, 1 sareeJetpurIndia, 1 sareeKolhapurIndia, 1 sareeLakhpatIndia, 1 sareeMadhaparIndia, 1 sareeMundraIndia, 1 sareeNakhatranaIndia, 1 sareeNakhtranaIndia, 1 sareeNashikIndia, 1 sareeNevasaIndia, 1 sareePalanpurIndia, 1 sareePethapurIndia, 1 sareeRaigadIndia, 1 sareeRatnagiriIndia, 1 sareeSarliIndia, 1 sareeSataraIndia, 1 sareeVadlaIndia, 1 sareeVastadiMaharashtra, 1 sareeYeolaA town in Nashik district, Maharashtra, where Paithani saris are woven in large numbers by handloom weavers.Gujarat, 0 sareesAhmedabadA great mill city with a rich craft heritage, and the home of museums and markets that show the textiles of Gujarat.Rajasthan, 0 sareesJaipur, Sanganer and BagruJaipur and its surrounding villages are the heart of Rajasthan's block printing, with Sanganer and Bagru each known for a distinct style.Rajasthan, 0 sareesKota and KaithoonThe town of Kaithoon, near Kota, weaves Kota Doria, a very light cotton and silk cloth with a square-check pattern.Gujarat, 0 sareesKutch and BhujodiA dry western district of Gujarat with a deep craft tradition: weaving at Bhujodi, embroidery, bandhani, block printing and mirror work.Maharashtra, 0 sareesSolapurA textile city in south Maharashtra known for cotton cloth, bed sheets and chaddars, and for old powerloom and handloom weaving.
Central India
India, 1 sareeBaghMadhya Pradesh, 1 sareeChanderiA town in Ashoknagar district, Madhya Pradesh, known for sheer cotton and silk saris with small woven motifs.Madhya Pradesh, 1 sareeMaheshwarA town on the Narmada, where Maheshwari saris in cotton and silk were first woven at the request of Ahilyabai Holkar.
East India
Bihar, 4 sareesBhagalpurBihar's silk city, long known for tussar silk sarees and dress material woven in the weavers' quarters.West Bengal, 4 sareesMurshidabadThe old capital of Bengal, home of Murshidabad silk and the origin of the Baluchari saree.India, 3 sareesSonepurOdisha, 2 sareesBargarhA town of ikat weavers in western Odisha, also known for the Dhanu Jatra, a large open-air festival play.India, 2 sareesBirbhumIndia, 2 sareesMaldaOdisha, 2 sareesSambalpurThe town of Sambalpuri ikat, in which the thread is tied and dyed before weaving, so the pattern appears as a soft-edged design.India, 1 sareeBalangirIndia, 1 sareeBarpaliIndia, 1 sareeBegampurIndia, 1 sareeBhusraIndia, 1 sareeBomkaiIndia, 1 sareeBoudhIndia, 1 sareeBrahmapurUzbekistan, 1 sareeBukharaIndia, 1 sareeChichegudaIndia, 1 sareeCossimbazarIndia, 1 sareeCuttack districtIndia, 1 sareeDakraIndia, 1 sareeGopalpurIndia, 1 sareeHabaspurIndia, 1 sareeJiaganjIndia, 1 sareeKalahandiIndia, 1 sareeKasimbazarIndia, 1 sareeKoraputIndia, 1 sareeKotpadBihar, 1 sareeMadhubaniThe home of Madhubani painting, whose line-drawn gods, fish and birds are now also painted on silk and cotton sarees.India, 1 sareeManiabandhaIndia, 1 sareeMuraraiIndia, 1 sareeMuzaffarpurIndia, 1 sareeNuapatanaIndia, 1 sareeNuapatnaIndia, 1 sareePipiliIndia, 1 sareeRaghunathganjUzbekistan, 1 sareeSamarkandIndia, 1 sareeShantiniketanIndonesia, 1 sareeTengananIndia, 0 sareesBalucharOdisha, 0 sareesBerhampurThe silk city of southern Odisha, known for pata sarees with temple borders, woven in bright, deep colours.West Bengal, 0 sareesBishnupurThe temple town of Bankura district, the home of Baluchari sarees with scenes from epics woven into the pallu.West Bengal, 0 sareesDhaniakhaliA weaving block of Hooghly district, known for cotton tant sarees with fine borders and bold stripes.West Bengal, 0 sareesKolkataThe great saree market of eastern India, where tant, jamdani, Baluchari and kantha are bought for Durga Puja.India, 0 sareesNadiaBihar, 0 sareesNalandaHome of the ancient monastic university ruins and of the Bawan Buti sarees, woven with fifty-two small motifs.West Bengal, 0 sareesSantiniketanThe school town founded by Tagore, known for kantha stitching, batik and handloom cloth made by local women and artists.West Bengal, 0 sareesSantipurThe cotton town of Nadia district, famous for Shantipuri tant sarees with fine borders and jamdani-style patterns.
North-East India
Assam, 2 sareesSualkuchiThe silk village on the Brahmaputra, where muga, pat and eri are woven into mekhela chador sets.India, 1 sareeBodolandIndia, 1 sareeDhakuakhanaIndia, 1 sareeMoirangIndia, 1 sareeSadiyaIndia, 1 sareeWangkhei ColonyTripura, 0 sareesAgartalaThe capital of Tripura, where Tripuri women wear the rignai and risa, woven cloth in bold borders on a loin loom.Mizoram, 0 sareesAizawlThe hill capital of Mizoram, where the puan, a woven wrap skirt with bands of colour, is worn by women every day.Assam, 0 sareesGuwahatiThe gateway to the northeast and its main market for Assamese silk, mekhela chador and handloom from the whole region.Manipur, 0 sareesImphalThe capital of Manipur, where women wear the phanek, a woven wrap skirt, and sell cloth in the women-run Ima Keithel market.India, 0 sareesJorhatNagaland, 0 sareesKohimaThe hill capital of Nagaland, the place to see Naga shawls, each tribe with its own pattern, at the Hornbill Festival.India, 0 sareesNoklakMeghalaya, 0 sareesShillongThe hill capital of Meghalaya, home to Khasi dress, eri silk from the state, and the Iewduh market.
South India
India, 4 sareesHyderabadIndia, 4 sareesPuttapakaKerala, 3 sareesBalaramapuramA weaving town just south of Thiruvananthapuram, long known for fine white cotton with a gold border.India, 2 sareesBijapurTamil Nadu, 2 sareesKanchipuramA temple town south-west of Chennai whose heavy silk saris, woven with zari borders, are among the best known in India.India, 2 sareesMachilipatnamIndia, 2 sareesPedanaIndia, 2 sareesSrikalahastiTamil Nadu, 1 sareeAraniA town in north Tamil Nadu known for its light silk saris and silk cloth, often woven plain with narrow zari borders.India, 1 sareeBellaryIndia, 1 sareeBhoodan PochampallyIndia, 1 sareeBhuvanagiriIndia, 1 sareeCalicutKerala, 1 sareeChendamangalamA handloom village near Kochi, in Kerala, known for cotton mundus and saris woven by a cooperative of weavers.India, 1 sareeChennaiIndia, 1 sareeChettinadIndia, 1 sareeChiralaIndia, 1 sareeChoutuppalaIndia, 1 sareeCoimbatoreAndhra Pradesh, 1 sareeDharmavaramA town in the Anantapur area of Andhra Pradesh, known for heavy silk saris and for pattu pavadas, the silk skirts worn by girls.India, 1 sareeErodeTelangana, 1 sareeGadwalA town in Telangana known for light cotton saris with a silk border, joined by an interlocking method.India, 1 sareeGolcondaIndia, 1 sareeHubliKarnataka, 1 sareeIlkalA town in north Karnataka whose cotton saris with a silk pallu, joined by a special loop, are among the state's best known handlooms.France, 1 sareeJouy-en-JosasIndia, 1 sareeKasaragodIndia, 1 sareeKoranadIndia, 1 sareeKoyalgudamKerala, 1 sareeKuthampullyA weaving village in Thrissur district, Kerala, known for cream cotton saris and mundus with a gold border.India, 1 sareeMadrasapattinamAndhra Pradesh, 1 sareeMangalagiriA temple town near Vijayawada, known for cotton saris with a nizam border, woven in strong colours.India, 1 sareeMayiladuthuraiIndia, 1 sareeNagercoilTelangana, 1 sareeNarayanpetA small town in Telangana known for cotton and silk saris with temple borders and a distinctive pallu.India, 1 sareeNilgirisIndia, 1 sareeOttapalamTelangana, 1 sareePochampallyA weaving village near Hyderabad, known for ikat cloth in which the threads are dyed before weaving to make blurred geometric designs.India, 1 sareePondicherryIndia, 1 sareeSanduruIndia, 1 sareeSiripuramIndia, 1 sareeSirumugaiIndia, 1 sareeThirubuvanamIndia, 1 sareeThiruvananthapuramIndia, 1 sareeTiruppurAndhra Pradesh, 1 sareeUppadaA coastal village in East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, known for jamdani silk saris woven with a supplementary weft.India, 0 sareesAndimadamKarnataka, 0 sareesBengaluru and the Karnataka silk beltKarnataka's capital is a major market for silk, and the silk-growing towns of Ramanagara and Kanakapura lie close by.Tamil Nadu, 0 sareesCoimbatore and KovaiA great cotton and mill city in western Tamil Nadu, with a handloom tradition in Kovai cora cotton saris.India, 0 sareesElaiyurIndia, 0 sareesGattuppalaIndia, 0 sareesKallathurTamil Nadu, 0 sareesKaraikudi and the Chettinad townsThe Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu is known for its thick cotton saris with wide, bold checks and borders, called Kandangi.Tamil Nadu, 0 sareesKumbakonam and ThirubuvanamDelta towns in Tamil Nadu where silk saris, especially from Thirubuvanam, are woven in the Kanchipuram manner at a lighter weight.India, 0 sareesKuthampallyTamil Nadu, 0 sareesMaduraiA temple city in southern Tamil Nadu whose Sungudi cotton, tie-dyed in small round dots, is among India's best known resist cloth.Karnataka, 0 sareesMolakalmuruA small town in Chitradurga district, Karnataka, known for silk saris with a plain body and a gold-toned border.India, 0 sareesMysoreKarnataka, 0 sareesMysuruThe royal city of Karnataka, long associated with Mysore silk saris, which are known for pure silk and fine gold zari.India, 0 sareesRamanagaraTamil Nadu, 0 sareesSalemAn inland Tamil Nadu city with a large handloom and powerloom textile trade, known for its white silk veshtis and light silk saris.India, 0 sareesSengunthapuramIndia, 0 sareesVariyankavalAndhra Pradesh, 0 sareesVenkatagiriA town in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, known for fine cotton saris with zari borders, once woven for the local rulers.
Rest of South Asia
Dhaka Division, 5 sareesDhakaThe capital of Bangladesh and the home of Dhakai jamdani, the hand-patterned muslin saree listed by UNESCO.Dhaka Division, 3 sareesTangailThe district town of Bangladesh's Tangail sari, a light cotton or silk handloom saree with fine borders.Mandalay Region, 2 sareesAmarapuraThe silk-weaving town near Mandalay, where wavy-patterned acheik cloth is woven for the htamein, the Burmese wrapped skirt.Bangladesh, 2 sareesChandinaBangladesh, 2 sareesComillaBangladesh, 2 sareesDhamraiIndia, 2 sareesDhatrigramPakistan, 2 sareesHyderabadBangladesh, 2 sareesMuradnagarRajshahi Division, 2 sareesRajshahiThe silk city of Bangladesh, on the Padma, where mulberry silk is reared, reeled and woven into sarees.India, 2 sareesSamudragarhIndia, 2 sareesShantipurBangladesh, 2 sareesSonargaonIndia, 1 sareeAjrakhpurIndia, 1 sareeBasowaIndia, 1 sareeBerhamporeIndia, 1 sareeBhatkalPakistan, 1 sareeBhit ShahBangladesh, 1 sareeBograThailand, 1 sareeChiang MaiBangladesh, 1 sareeChittagongIndia, 1 sareeChowk IslampurBangladesh, 1 sareeDaccaMyanmar, 1 sareeDaweiBangladesh, 1 sareeDebidwarBangladesh, 1 sareeFaridpurBangladesh, 1 sareeGauripurPakistan, 1 sareeHalaBangladesh, 1 sareeJamalpurBangladesh, 1 sareeJangalbariBangladesh, 1 sareeJessoreIndia, 1 sareeKalnaIndia, 1 sareeKalna CityCentral Province, 1 sareeKandyThe hill capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom, where the Kandyan osariya, with its pleated front and frilled shoulder, was worn.India, 1 sareeKhordhaBangladesh, 1 sareeKhulnaBangladesh, 1 sareeKushtiaBangladesh, 1 sareeMadhurapurBangladesh, 1 sareeMainamatiIndia, 1 sareeMasulipatnamPakistan, 1 sareeMatiariBangladesh, 1 sareeMymensinghPakistan, 1 sareeNagarparkarBangladesh, 1 sareeNarayanganjBangladesh, 1 sareeNoakhaliBangladesh, 1 sareePabnaIndia, 1 sareeSabarmati AshramPakistan, 1 sareeShikarpurBangladesh, 1 sareeSirajganjPakistan, 1 sareeSukkurPakistan, 1 sareeThano Bula KhanPakistan, 1 sareeTharparkarPakistan, 1 sareeUmarkotMyanmar, 1 sareeWundwinWestern Province, 0 sareesColomboSri Lanka's commercial capital, where sarees of every kind, handloom, batik and Indian imports, are sold and worn.Sindh, 0 sareesKarachiPakistan's largest city, where the saree is worn by many families at weddings and formal events and sold in its cloth markets.Bagmati Province, 0 sareesKathmanduNepal's capital, where women wear the saree, the Newar haku patasi in black and red, and dress in red for the Teej festival.
Beyond South Asia
Indonesia, 4 sareesYogyakartaIndonesia, 2 sareesCirebonThailand, 2 sareesKalasinIndonesia, 2 sareesPalembangIndonesia, 2 sareesSurakartaGreece, 1 sareeAthensIraq, 1 sareeBabylonIndonesia, 1 sareeBaliThailand, 1 sareeBan ChiangThailand, 1 sareeBangkokIndonesia, 1 sareeBug-BugThailand, 1 sareeChaiyaphumChina, 1 sareeChengduThailand, 1 sareeChonnabotIndonesia, 1 sareeDenpasarIndonesia, 1 sareeEast SumbaAustralia, 1 sareeErnabellaIndonesia, 1 sareeGianyarIndonesia, 1 sareeJavaIndonesia, 1 sareeKartasuraThailand, 1 sareeKhorat PlateauMalaysia, 1 sareeKota BharuIndonesia, 1 sareeKoto GadangPhilippines, 1 sareeLake SebuThailand, 1 sareeLamphunLaos, 1 sareeLuang PrabangMalaysia, 1 sareeMalaccaSyria, 1 sareeMariKenya, 1 sareeMombasaTanzania, 1 sareeMorogoroChina, 1 sareeNanjingIndonesia, 1 sareeNusa PenidaAlgeria, 1 sareeOugalaIndonesia, 1 sareePadangIndonesia, 1 sareePandai SikekItaly, 1 sareeRomeCambodia, 1 sareeSampan LeuIndonesia, 1 sareeSilungkangThailand, 1 sareeSisaketIndonesia, 1 sareeSoloPhilippines, 1 sareeSouth CotabatoIndonesia, 1 sareeSumbaChina, 1 sareeSuzhouIndonesia, 1 sareeTabananIndonesia, 1 sareeTenganan PegeringsinganIndonesia, 1 sareeTenganan PegringsingaThailand, 1 sareeUbon RatchathaniThailand, 1 sareeUdon ThaniThailand, 1 sareeYasothonTanzania, 1 sareeZanzibar