Introduction

This is a handicraft centre run by Tibetan refugees and is a couple kilometres after Gandhi Chowk, en route to Khajjiar. Carpet weaving is the main industry. Tibetan carpets, apart from their distinct motifs that include the lotus or the conch, and even yaks, are heavy and chunky. The woollen yarn is also thick and the colours strong.

Carpets in Tibet have been in use for at least a thousand years. But unlike their use elsewhere, as wall hangings and as floor coverings, here, they served as beds and seats. Traditionally, they acted as drapes over saddles and as padding under them. They have also been used as curtains over open doorways and as unusual coverings over pillars in monasteries. The three countries that have deeply influenced Tibet’s art, culture and way of life are neighbouring India, Nepal and China. As far the carpets go, the Chinese influence is substantial. At times, the carpets of the two are practically indistinguishable from one another. There is also a presence of Central Asian and Caucasian designs. The knotted carpets, as are made at the Handicraft Centre, are variously called grum-tse, rum-gdan, or simply, dgan (pronounced, ‘den’; a floor carpet is called sa-gdan (pronounced, sapden’). They normally have rectangular shapes. Originally, as they were intended for seating or as beds, the fitting was done for a small cot with a length of between 54 and 72 inches. Recent variations have introduced the doormat size as well as the popular ‘six by nine’. The pile is normally half and inch thick. The knots per square inch vary between 30 and 80, with around 50 as the normal.

The Tibetan handicraft shop at Gandhi Chowk has some of these on display and sale. At the Handicraft Centre you can also place an order; a catalogue with designs and prices is available.

Special Attributes

Centre managed by Tibetan refugees where carpets and other handicrafts are made.

Nuisance

None

Dressing restrictions

Comfortable

Connectivity

Walking, bus or taxi.

Enjoyed by

Handicraft enthusiasts and shoppers

Exposure

None inside

Avoidable Season

None

Facilities

Parking

Things Not Allowed

No such restriction

Tip

You can order carpets from the available designs

Type of site

Handicraft Centre