SRINAGAR: The Government of India has sanctioned the establishment of a Craft Tourism Village in Sonpah, a Sozni embroidery hub on the way to the scenic Doodhpathri in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. The project, to be set up for Rs 10 crore, aims to combine craft heritage with tourism infrastructure.
The Union Ministry of Textiles has also released the first instalment of the Central share, amounting to Rs 4.50 crore, under the National Handicrafts Development Programme’s Infrastructure and Technology Support Scheme. The Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, will implement the project, with funds routed through the Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India.
A departmental spokesman, in a press release issued on Tuesday, expressed gratitude to the Central Government for approving the plan and acknowledging Sonpah’s legacy of Sozni artisans. “As many as 22 craftsmen from this village of awardees have distinguished themselves by winning many UT-level and Shilp Guru Awards,” the spokesman said.
Located on the route to popular tourist destinations such as Doodhpathri and Tossa Maidan, the upcoming Craft Tourism Village will offer visitors and art lovers a direct experience of living crafts. The project will feature designer gates, mural paintings, cultural and interactive zones with live craft demonstrations, common workspaces with display-cum-sale counters, and improved community facilities. It will also focus on infrastructure development, branding, and market access for local artisans.
According to the department, the initiative will transform Sonpah into a modern tourism hub while safeguarding its traditional craft heritage, offering a model for linking cultural preservation with economic development in nature-based destinations like Kashmir. (With KNS inputs)
