Cashmere carpets are among the most sought-after works of art. They are hand-weaved in the Kashmir valley in the north of the vast country, one of India's centres of handicrafts and handlooms. The valley is 132 kilometres long, 32 miles across, and the carpet there is hand-weaved from pure wool, pure silk and occasionally a mixture of the two. They come in a wide range of designs, sizes and colours, with bright jewel tones such as sapphire blue, ruby red and emerald green dominating, as well as aquamarine, amethyst and ivory. Cashmere carpets are traditionally made in oriental floral patterns that depict local cultural motifs such as the Eastern plane tree or the tree of life, a symbol that in many cultures represents the cosmic connection between heaven and earth. Carpets are also often decorated with cashmere patterns, which are tiny floral motifs also known as paisley.
The people of the Kashmir Valley are fond of saying that a cashmere rug is the soul of any home, and a home is never complete without such beauty.