Explore the rich heritage of Indian hand-knotted carpets — a living bridge between history, geography, and artistry. This page introduces the origins, materials, dyes, designs, weaving centers, and the role of carpets in India’s economy.

The history of civilization in the Indian subcontinent dates back to at least the third millennium BCE, contemporaneous with the famous civilizations of Egypt, Iran, Greece, and Mesopotamia. Art in India also has a long history and boasts great diversity and richness.

The earliest center of Indian civilization was concentrated around the upper reaches of the Indus Valley (in present-day Pakistan). Recently, another significant center of artistic civilization has been discovered in Kalibangan near the border of Pakistan (close to Karachi).