Assam Silk

“Silk-haven”, “Manchester of the East”, “Manchester of Assam”; these are a few synonyms given to Sualkuchi in Assam because of its large number of handloom silk weaving units. Situated some 30 km from Guwahati in Assam, on the banks of the mighty river Brahmaputra, this picturesque village is a haven for silk fabrics ranging from the golden Muga silk to the ivory white Pat silk and the light beige Eri or Endi silks. Out of these, Pat silk or Assam silk is woven in a traditional Assamese style using mulberry silk yarns native to Karnataka.
Pat Silk weaving in Sualkuchi has been traced back to around 10th-11th century. Patronized by the Pala and the Ahom kings, the craft established itself during that period being a luxury afforded only by the royalty and the noble families of Assam.