Kashmiri Walnut Wood Carving Craft

Kashmiri walnut wood carving is a centuries-old craft using the fine-grained timber of the Juglans regia walnut tree found in the Kashmir valley. The walnut grain is exceptionally hard and uniform, allowing artisans to carve intricate deep-relief panels, lattice screens, furniture, and decorative boxes. The main motifs are chinar leaf, iris, lotus, almond blossom, and geometric medallions in the Mughal and Persian style. Artisans of Haft-Kari village near Srinagar are the traditional masters. Three types of carving technique are practiced: khatamband (geometric inlay), naqashi (fine surface chasing), and kari (deep relief carving). A single elaborately carved walnut panel can take months. The craft received GI certification. Export markets include USA, UK, Germany, and the Gulf. About 70,000 craftspeople across the Kashmir valley work in this sector, making it one of the largest craft industries in Jammu and Kashmir.