Culture and Heritage

The Kanishawl design is created by manipulation of tiny wooden sticks called tujis. Such is the artistry that it takes two weavers six months to make one shawl. The state government, with help from the central government is trying to create domestic & overseas market for Kashmiri shawl. Indigenous to Budgam, Bandpather is the most popular face of Kashmiri folk-art. Even now the bhands can be seen performing at Wathura.It is traditional bastion in Chadoora. In a bid to revive the the age-old culture of folk music, Budgam was in the forefront in organizing cultural shows in the district. Kanishawl the piece art of Kashmiri shawls is made in a tiny hamlet of Kanihama, from where it derives its name. The Budgam craftsmen have great mastery in creating household items from willow-wicker such as the ubiquitous small earthen firepot, Kangri,and the quintessential baskets etc

A view of fallen Khanpur Sarai arches, a Mughal period monument  in Budgam 20 Km (12 miles) south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir, India. Khanpur Sarai (Inn) located at Khanpur on the ancient Mughal route towards south of Srinagar, used by travelers from South Asia in the Mughal Period. In recent times the heritage site has been encroached upon by locals with various structures damaged by vandals, the restoration of the structure has been taken on by the Archeological Survey of India, who have rebuilt fallen arches and restored several cells. The restoration work was first started in 1988 but stopped when the armed conflict broke out between India and Pakistan over Kashmir in 1989, during this period many such monuments were not looked after by the authorities, but the recent calming in the conflict has allowed the government to refocus efforts into conservation.