Mysore’s silk industry was founded by Tipu Sultan in the 18th century, who imported silkworms from Bengal and Oman in a bid to boost the economic prosperity of his kingdom. The trade continued to grow under the Wadiyar rule. Today, Mysore alone is responsible for producing about half of all the silk made in India.
An informative and memorable visit to the famous Karnataka Silk production centre will help you understand the whole process, from the silkworm’s life cycle and mulberry munching appetite, to the way silk thread is extracted and then finally woven using Swiss looms into the most gorgeous and shimmering fabrics and saris, desired by high end fashion designers worldwide, and of course, millions of Indian ladies.
