Kashmir Saffron — World's Finest Crocus Harvest

Pampore, near Srinagar, is the saffron bowl of India, producing GI-tagged Kashmir saffron (Crocus sativus) renowned for its long threads, intense colour, and aroma. Harvested in October by hand-picking delicate purple flowers at dawn, it takes 150,000 flowers to yield one kilogram of dried saffron. The crop faces threats from urbanisation and water table depletion.