Hyderabad is home to one of India’s finest handloom fabric traditions . Meeting the finest craftsmen and connecting with their stories- an experience of looms, legendary landmarks and lingering tales on the craftsmanship that have kept India’s textile printing and weaving cultures alive.
The land of Nizams, Hyderabad is a fascinating treat for lovers of history, culture, textiles, architecture and finely crafted jewels. From age old Kalamkari paintings to the beautifully crafted Kondapalli Dolls, Andhra Pradesh boasts of an eclectic range of arts and crafts.
Take a curated walk around the textile gallery of Chowmahalla Palace which showcases the garments and textiles used by the Nizams and their families. Visit a studio established to promote the rich textile heritage of India. The studio employs more than 400 handloom weavers in many different states of India to produce intricate design pieces from several varieties of natural, handwoven yarns of Tussar and mulbury silks.
Meet the force behind a Handloom weaver owned and managed social enterprise. The core idea behind this initiative is to enable equitable and sustainable livelihoods for handloom weaver communities, especially women, by linking them with contemporary markets through enhanced incomes, ownership, knowledge and skills. It seeks to build an alternative paradigm with ethical business practices, fair wages to weavers and revival of traditional designs and art, starting with Ikat.
See an octogenarian as she goes about instructing her class of weavers on the nearly-extinct technique of himroo weaving. She has been credited with single-handedly reviving Persian brocades, most significantly the Mashru, Himroo, Jamavar and Paithani.Himroo products are mostly produced on Jacquard looms and the fabric is an extra-weft weaving technique employing a mixture of silk, cotton and silver or gold threads. The patterns carry floral motifs with intricate geometric borders.In her effort to resurrect forgotten weaves, she has also set up a loom for Telia Rumal, an oil-coated fabric that was highly prized in ancient Hyderabad. Today there are very few remaining weavers of the Telia Rumal and Suraiya Hasan’s work in this craft has been a significant step in reviving it.
Telangana is one of the important States in the Handloom Industry. There are about 40,533 Handloom weavers including ancillary workers. There are about 35,588 Powerlooms working in the State there are 615 Weavers Cooperative Societies in the State consisting of Cotton-259, Silk-33, and Wool-44.
Kalamakari Paintings is one of the many distinguished art forms of the region which involves the art of painting fabrics by using pen and is exclusively found in the Machilipatnam and Srikalahasti areas of the state. Inspired by the Persian patterns and motifs, the art form of Kalamkari usually showcases the stories of mythological figures and deities and uses natural dyes and colors.
Renowned for its handlooms, Hyderabad is most famous for its Pochampally Ikat style of saris and dress-materials adorned with delicate and distinctive designs. Pay a visit to the Pochampally Handloom Park where you can the watch the exquisite Pochampally Ikat sarees come to life and marvel at the intricate craftsmanship of the weavers. Explore in detail the precision and artistry that goes into making of Ikat fabrics through the various stages of production including Ikat dyeing. Try your hands at the traditional hand looms and indulge yourself with some of the most beautiful pieces of Pochampally Ikat that you can take back home.
Walk through the local markets around Chaarminar and soak in the flavours of the ‘Hyderabadi Biryani’, a must try delicacy of the region. Laad Bazaar, one of city’s oldest market is famous for its bangles which are made using lacquer and beautifully studded with semi-precious stones. The market also sells saris, perfumes, pearls and other wedding related items.
One of the most popular attractions of the state, the sound and light show at Golconda fort which narrates the story behind the fort is a fine treat to the eyes and a must visit.
Come indulge in a rich, diverse cultural journey, complete with historical context, wrapped with local interactions and cuisine with HydTravel – A journey filled with new friendships, fonder appreciation and understanding on Indian textiles and memories worth a thousand counts.
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