Why Bhadohi Carpets Are Famous: The Story of India's Carpet City

If you have ever admired a handmade carpet in a hotel lobby, a designer home or a shop abroad, there is a good chance it was made in Bhadohi, a small district in eastern Uttar Pradesh, about 45 km from Varanasi. Bhadohi is known across the world as the Carpet City of India.

We are a carpet-making family from Madhosingh, Bhadohi, and we have been making carpets here since 1964. Here is the story of our town, and why its carpets are loved around the world.

It Began Over 400 Years Ago

Carpet weaving in Bhadohi dates back to the 16th century, during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar, a great patron of the arts. According to local history, Persian master weavers travelling through India stopped in the village of Madhosingh in Bhadohi and set up the first carpet loom there. They taught the craft to local families.

Over the generations, Bhadohi's weavers blended Persian knotting techniques and designs with Indian artistry, creating the rich Indo-Persian style the region is famous for today. What started as a royal art slowly became a way of life, with skills passed down from parents to children.

Our own workshop is in Madhosingh Bazar, the same place where, the story goes, Bhadohi's first loom was set up.

The GI Tag: Official Recognition

In 2010, the handmade carpets of Bhadohi received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Just as only sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France can be called Champagne, the GI tag recognises that the traditional hand-knotted carpets of the Bhadohi region have a unique heritage and quality tied to this place. The GI area covers Bhadohi and nearby districts such as Mirzapur and Varanasi.

The Heart of India's Carpet Industry

Together with neighbouring Mirzapur, Bhadohi is the largest handmade carpet cluster in India. Lakhs of artisans in the region work in carpet making, and by most estimates the region makes a large share of all the handmade carpets India sends to the world, with buyers in the USA, Europe, the Middle East and beyond.

What Makes a Bhadohi Carpet Special?

Tressan Mustard Botanical Hand Tufted Wool Rug

• Generations of skill. Many families, like ours, have been making carpets for decades. The skill of the hands is the real secret.
• Every step done by specialists. Design, wool dyeing, weaving or tufting, finishing and washing are each done by people who have spent years on that one job.
• A huge range of techniques. Bhadohi makes hand-knotted, hand-tufted and flat-woven carpets, as well as shaggy rugs, all in one region.
• Indo-Persian design heritage. Classic medallions and florals sit alongside modern abstract and geometric designs.
• Any size, any design. Because carpets are made to order, they can be made to your exact size and colours.

The Many Carpets of Bhadohi

• Hand knotted carpets – every knot tied by hand on a loom; the region's most famous and long-lasting craft
• Hand tufted carpets – soft wool pile in modern and carved 3D designs, at a friendly price
• Persian-style carpets – the Indo-Persian medallion and floral designs Bhadohi is known for
• Shaggy rugs – deep, soft pile for bedrooms and living rooms
• Handmade dhurries – light, flat-woven and reversible
• Janamaz prayer carpets

Not sure which suits your home? Read our guide: Hand Tufted vs Hand Knotted Carpets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Bhadohi?
Bhadohi is a district in eastern Uttar Pradesh, about 45 km from Varanasi. It is known as the Carpet City of India.

What is the Bhadohi GI tag?
In 2010, the traditional hand-knotted carpets of the Bhadohi region received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which officially recognises their heritage and link to this place.

What kinds of carpets are made in Bhadohi?
Bhadohi makes hand knotted and hand tufted carpets, Persian-style designs, flat-woven dhurries, shaggy rugs and prayer carpets, among many others.

Are all Bhadohi carpets hand knotted?
No. Hand knotting is Bhadohi's most famous craft, but the region also makes hand tufted rugs, flat-woven dhurries and shaggy rugs.

Can I buy directly from a Bhadohi carpet maker?
Yes. Carpet Emporio is a carpet-making family business in Madhosingh, Bhadohi. You can order online or message us on WhatsApp for custom sizes and colours.

Do you deliver outside Bhadohi?
Yes. We deliver across India with free shipping, and international shipping is available on request.

Buy Direct from a Bhadohi Carpet Maker

When you buy from Carpet Emporio, your carpet comes straight from our workshop in Madhosingh, Bhadohi, with no middlemen. Learn more about our family and our team, or ask us to make any design in your own size on our custom rugs page.

Talk to a Bhadohi Carpet Maker on WhatsApp