The sarees of Murshidabad
The old capital of Bengal, home of Murshidabad silk and the origin of the Baluchari saree.
Motifs of Murshidabad
Woven here
Best time: October to March.
GI: Murshidabad silk is registered as a Geographical Indication.
Murshidabad was the capital of Bengal in the eighteenth century and has long been a silk-reeling and weaving region. Baluchari sarees, which carry pictures from stories on their pallu, were first woven at Baluchar, a village near the town. Murshidabad silk is still reeled and woven in the district.
What is woven here
The district is known for mulberry silk, reeled from cocoons and woven into sarees and dress material. Murshidabad silk sarees are light and often have a simple border. Baluchari was developed here and later became a speciality of Bishnupur. Its pallu is filled with scenes in extra-weft silk, from courtly life or from epic stories, with a wide border of small motifs.
The craft and its people
Silk work here has been done by families of reelers and weavers for a long time. Baluchari originated in the early eighteenth century and later moved to Bishnupur, after its original village declined. Today, Murshidabad silk is made in the district by smaller workshops and cooperatives. Murshidabad silk is protected as a Geographical Indication.
Seeing it
The Hazarduari Palace, with its many rooms of royal objects, and the Katra Mosque are the main sights of the old capital. Silk-reeling and weaving centres are found in the district, and local guides can arrange visits. Combine a day in the heritage sites with a visit to a workshop to see silk being reeled and woven.
A trail idea for Murshidabad
- Hazarduari Palace Walk through the palace of the Nawabs to see the setting in which Bengal's courtly silks were worn.
- Katra Mosque Visit the old mosque at the town's edge, which shows the architecture of the nawabi period.
- A silk-reeling centre See cocoons unwound into thread, and ask how the thread goes on to the loom.
Written by the EveryPallu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Murshidabad" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and workshops change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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