Handmade in India

Washed and dyed fabric being sun-dried prior to block printing, Barmer.
Subclusters of
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer district:
Jaisalmer, Pokharan
Barmer district:
Barmer
Crafts of Jaisalmer
Camel trapping
Terracotta of
Pokharan
Stone Carving
RESOURCES
Craft Raw Materials Sources
Camel Trappings
Goat hari,Cotton
Jaisalmer
cord
A REMOTE OUTPOST in the
Thar Desert, Jaisalmer was
founded in the 12th century by
Maharaja Jaisal of the Bhatti
Rajput clan.Due to its location
on the busy overland routes
linking India with
Egypt,Arabia,Persia and
Africa.Jaisalmer was an
exceptional wealthy principality who affluent trades and rules
vied with each other to beautify their austere desert environs
with resplendent palaces and havelis,mansions.Constructed with
the local golden yellow sandstone,these buildings have
exquisitely carved facades with intricately patterned jaali,latticed
screens,which serve to diffuse the harsh desert sunlight while
allowing fresh air to enter.They also enabled women of the
household to observe the happenings of the street
unobtrusively.The glory of Medieval Jaisalmer came to an end in
the 18th century when trade began to be routed through the sea
ports of the Surat and Mumbai and the old caravan routes fell
into relative disuse.The crafts of this arid region of the Thar -
wool weaving,embroidery,bandhej and pottery-appear to have
attempted to negate the vast austerity of its sandy tracts through
the use of vivid colour.The cultural matrix of Barmer,a desert
town that was once a part of the Jodhpur estate,has much in
common with the adjoining Tharparkar region of Pakistan.Since
it is occupied primarily by the Meghwal and nomadic cattle
herding communities,the crafts of Barmerbandhej,ajrakh,printing,embroidery
and patchwork-are
essentially an expression of the nomadic lifestyle and legends of
their community`s origin and wanderings.
ACCESS
Jaisalmer is connected to Jaipur(665km) and Jodhpur (98km)by
both rail and road.Barmer too is connected by road and rail with
Jodhpur and Jaipur;it is also connected to Kachchh by road.
1. Inset A memorial;its chhatri,fluted columns and arches are
of the elaborately carved sandstone characteristic of this
region.
2. Naqqashi kaam,the intricately carved wood reflects the
ajrakh (block printed patterns) of Sindh in Pakistan.
3. Due to the large repeat sizes of the blocks used in
printing,the craftsmen apply pressure on it with both their
hands to ensure an even application of colour.
4. A potter stands among his waters at the village of
Pokharan.