Carved jewelry box from walnut wood.

Jammu and Kashmir

Heritage engraved in wood: Kashmir’s Walnut Wood Carving

Crafted from the Naqash’s gifted hands

Carved jewelry box from walnut wood.
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Crafted beauty amidst Himalayan splendour

Across the wondrous landscapes of the city of Srinagar, nature and culture thrive together. Kashmiris cultivate a variety of the walnut tree, known locally as Dhoon Kul or Akhrot ka Pedh. The walnut wood from these cultivated Wantu, Dun and Khakazi varieties are then harvested. In the hands of gifted craftsmen, the magic between creativity and skill begins as they carve out the wood by hand. Using a range of techniques, strikingly beautiful pieces are fashioned out of wood to create Kashmir’s Walnut Wood Carvings.

A glimpse into history

Sculpting wood into fine pieces of art is representative of Kashmir's local tradition of carving which has evolved over centuries. The earliest source mentioning Kashmir walnut wood carving is the Gazetteer of Kashmir which was published in 1890. The craft gained popularity due to the realistic rendering of flowers and motifs in wood. The ornate designs of the wood carvings featured Punjabi and Islamic influences and were used in panelling, cabinet making, etc.

Today, an estimated 600 artisans in Srinagar city are involved in manufacturing Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving products, specifically in the locality of Fateh Kadal. Walnut wood’s qualities of being hard, compact, durable yet light with a close grain and even texture makes it ideal for fine, detailed carving. The colour and sheen of walnut wood also makes it desirable to Kashmiri carvers, locally known as Naqashs. The carving of wood by hand is undertaken via a variety of techniques such as Khokerdar (undercutting), Vaboraveth (raised carving), Padri (engraving), Jallidhar or Shabokdhar (open or lattice work), Dagakil (texture with nails) and Sadikaam (shallow or plain carving) styles. In 2012, this splendid craft was granted the Geographical Indications (GI) tag by the Government of India.

Crafted with love and passion

Kashmiri Walnut Wood Carving features embellishments depicting traditional designs and motifs inspired by nature. The carving process is known as dhun hath kaem (walnut wood work) or simply as dhoon kaem (walnut work). Some traditional designs utilised include Gul Tarah (flower motifs of rose, iris, daffodil, jasmine, lotus and sunflower), Mavi Dahar (fruit bearing tree motifs of apple, pear, walnut), Dach Tarah (grape), Badam Tarah (almond), Bhoni Tarah (chinar), Janavar ti Jandhar Tarah (animal and birds motif of bulbul, parrot, dove, pigeon, fish, lion, deer, rabbit, horse, snake etc.), Jungle Tarah (jungle scenes), Scenery Dhar (landscapes), Harfi Dhar (Arabic, Persian and Kashmiri verses), Taveez Dhar (Quranic verses), Hashiyi Dhar (border motifs) and Raiz Kari (intricate floral work).

Artisans painstakingly fashion out rich designs into the walnut wood using hand tools, such as chisels, scales, gouges, and saws. The first stage of wood carving is Dagun which involves broadly delineating the basic motif from the surrounding surface. Next comes Zamin Kadun wherein the wood around the motif is carved out. In the stage of Guzar border outline of motifs is undertaken. Towards the end Kanjiwar and Guzar Safai the edges are rounded to the required shape. Before polishing, the wood is coloured in dark red, yellow, deep maroon, black or brown.


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Jammu and Kashmir

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A precious souvenir from Srinagar

From furniture to decorative pieces, the Kashmir Walnut Wood Carvings are utilised in a range of products. Items like bowls, trays, lamps, candelabras and jewellery boxes make for some of the best souvenirs. Each carving is a centrepiece that showcases Kashmir's history and heritage and will become treasured keepsakes for years. One can purchase authentic walnut wood carvings from the many shops and crafts emporium in Srinagar. Better yet, visit the locality of Fateh Kadal and witness the Naqash bring an intricate piece of walnut wood carving to life!