Handmade in India

Situated on the banks of River Tawi and framed against the
picturesque backdrop of the majesic Trikuta Ranges lies Jammu, the
`winter capital` of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The region is
believed to have acquired its name from its 9th century founder,
Raja Jambu Lochan. The present city of Jammu, however, was
established under the Dogra rulers who gained control over the
region in 1730 A.D. and made Jammu their capital. Under their
patronage, their city became an important centre of art and culture
spawning the famous Pahari miniature painting style and its lyrical
depictions of the Gita Govinda, the Ramayana, the Rasamanjari, the
Ragamala, the Bhagwata Purana and the tale of Nala-Damayanti.
The Sikhs took over from the Rajputs, following which, in 1832,
Gulab Singh merged Jammu with Kashmir to form the present state.
Its history has created an ethnic melange: apart from the Dogras who
are of Aryan lineage and occupy the plains, Jammu is also inhabited
by nomadic mountain-dwelling tribes such as the Gujjars, Bakerwals
and Gaddis, as well as the communities of Punjabi descent such as
the Khatris and Mahajans, and the Muslim Rajput sects known as the
Chibalis and the Sudans. Jammu, known as the City of Temples, is
home to a large number of temples and shrines of Vaishno Devi. The
impact of the presence of these religious sites on the folklore and art
forms of the region is clearly visible in Jammu`s mustical traditions,
raas dances, paintings of mystics and devotional folklore.