The sarees of Bengaluru and the Karnataka silk belt
Karnataka's capital is a major market for silk, and the silk-growing towns of Ramanagara and Kanakapura lie close by.
Motifs of Bengaluru and the Karnataka silk belt
Woven here
Best time: October to February.
Bengaluru is a large city and also the main market for Karnataka's silk. Ramanagara, about 50 km away, is a well known cocoon market, and weaving and reeling towns lie nearby. Anyone interested in how silk is made can see several stages within a day's drive.
What is woven here
Silk saris in plain colours with zari borders, crepe and georgette silks, and heavier Mysore-style silks are produced and sold in the region. Karnataka is among the largest producers of mulberry silk in India. Weavers also make cotton and silk-cotton saris. The city is where much of this cloth is sold, to local and out-of-state buyers.
The craft and its people
Silk farming, reeling, twisting, dyeing and weaving are done by different groups. Farmers raise the cocoons, reelers draw the thread, and weavers and traders carry it on. Government and cooperative bodies run markets where cocoons are bought and sold.
Seeing it
In the city, silk sari shops cluster in some of the old market streets. Ramanagara's cocoon market is known as one of Asia's larger ones, and visitors can usually see it in the early morning by arrangement. Check opening times before going.
A trail idea for Bengaluru and the Karnataka silk belt
- City silk sari streets Visit older commercial streets in the morning for the widest choice of Karnataka silks.
- Ramanagara cocoon market See cocoons weighed and traded, usually in the early hours, so plan to arrive early.
- A reeling unit nearby Ask a local guide or society to arrange a look at silk thread being drawn from cocoons.
Written by the EveryPallu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Bangalore" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and workshops change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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