POCHAMPALLY
INDIA
2021
Contact
Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation Limited, Tourism House,
No.3-5-891, Himayat Nagar, Hyderabad – 500029
E: [email protected]
telanganatourism.gov.in
The cradle of the famous and colorful saris
The village of Pochampally has many attractions, including the world famous traditionally hand-woven IKAT products, or the various attractions of pilgrimage, ecotourism, local cultural heritage, performing arts, handicrafts, and other indigenous products that showcase unique techniques. This village is located in an ideal settlement on the outskirts of a large city, Hyderabad, which benefits greatly from the weaving culture and its strong historical context. The endearing, meditative hum of the handloom immediately transports the listener into the lives of the weavers and their families.
Pochampally is the place where threads and colors come together in the hands of the skilled weavers, and then make a spectacular appearance in the marketplace in the form of beautiful saris and other clothing materials.
Over the years, Pochampally weaving has gained immense popularity, and ikat is now one of the most famous and sought-after weavings in the country. This silk village, home to more than 10,000 weaving families, has traditional looms, patterns and techniques that have existed for centuries. Ikat weaving involves an 18-step sequence of tying and dyeing sections of thread tied in an intricate pattern of predetermined colors before weaving. All Pochampally looms are hand-loomed, as it is believed that a machine can never reproduce the work of the hand. The weavers are popular for their traditional and geometric patterns in the Ikat dyeing style.
The famous Pochampally sari was granted worldwide Intellectual Property Rights protection in 2005, known as Geographical Indication (GI) Certification. Its traditional weaving has spearheaded local employment generation, improved quality of life and livelihood options for the local community. It has also reinforced the cultural significance and sense of cultural identity of the local community.
HIGHLIGHTS
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IKAT style under Geographical Indication protection
The village is famous across the world for its finesse in hand woven IKAT products in both silk and cotton. In fact, Pochampally Ikat unique style is under Geographical Indication protection. Specific policies are aimed at encouraging intergenerational transmission of skills and techniques and revitalizing local arts and crafts to promote rural development.
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Value chain integration through innovation
The village has partnered with Microsoft and with Chaitanya Bharti, a non-profit organization using innovation in technology to develop its value chain and integrate it in the tourism industry. Skill development programs, digital literacy initiatives and support from various governmental and non-governmental organizations have had a positive impact on the opportunity of more and better quality jobs.
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Prioritizing the role of rural tourism
Pochampally Rural Tourism Project was launched by the erstwhile Government of Andhra Pradesh in the year 2007 to benefit the local community with the idea of making the tourists aware of the weaving mechanism involved.