The sarees of Kota and Kaithoon
The town of Kaithoon, near Kota, weaves Kota Doria, a very light cotton and silk cloth with a square-check pattern.
Motifs of Kota and Kaithoon
Woven here
Best time: October to March.
GI: Kota Doria is a registered Geographical Indication.
Kota is a city in south-east Rajasthan. Kaithoon, a town a short drive away, is the home of Kota Doria, a very light, open-weave cloth in cotton and silk. Its pattern of small squares is called khat.
What is woven here
Kota Doria is woven in cotton and silk, usually in a mix, and has a square pattern made by weaving thicker and thinner threads together. The cloth is airy and almost see-through, so it is well suited to heat. It is made in white, pastel and bright tones, and may be block printed or embroidered after weaving. It is used for saris and dupattas.
The craft and its people
Weaving is done on handlooms, in family homes, by weavers from Kaithoon and nearby villages. The cloth is said to have grown in the region under the support of the local rulers. The craft has needed support to keep up its standards against powerloom copies.
Seeing it
Kaithoon has weaving homes and shops that sell Kota Doria. Kota itself has a fort and palace museum on the Chambal river. It is usually visited with other places in south-east Rajasthan.
A trail idea for Kota and Kaithoon
- Kaithoon weaving homes See the square-check cloth on handlooms and ask how the khat pattern is formed.
- Kota Garh palace museum A palace complex on the Chambal river, with a museum of local art.
- Kota market Browse saris and dupattas in Kota Doria and compare with powerloom copies.
Written by the EveryPallu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Kota Doria" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and workshops change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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