https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Infusing ‘Pran’ Into Chanderi Silk

Pranpur, a village in MP, is India’s first Craft Handloom Tourism Village It was a cluster of 800 odd bonded weavers of Chanderi silk Tourists can now visit the village and buy from the weavers directly
Indian Masterminds Stories

Madhya Pradesh is situated in the heart of India, but the state’s ‘pran kendra’ is now Pranpur, a vibrant and throbbing weavers’ cluster branded as India’s first ‘Craft Handloom Tourism Village’ by MP Tourism.

Pranpur was chosen for its weaving community whose specialization is the famous Chanderi silk, that is woven in looms at their small village homes. Just 4 kms away from Chanderi town, this beautiful village, surrounded by lush greenery, has been beautified further with Chanderi art to add vibrancy and colour to the quaint village.

To get more details about this tourism project that has amalgamated handloom and textiles into it, Indian Masterminds spoke to Principal Secretary of MP Tourism and Culture departments, Mr. Sheo Shekhar Shukla, an IAS officer of 94 batch.

Tourists In Pranpur’s colourful lanes

HUB OF CHANDERI SILK

Only 4 km away from Chanderi town lies a piquant and picturesque village nestled in greenery and inhabited by artists whose hands weave magic into yarns of the famous Chanderi silk of Madhya Pradesh. Around 800 plus weavers churn out Chanderi sarees and dupattas in motifs specific to this region called the Chanderi art.

Earlier they were bonded weavers working for master weavers in big towns and cities of MP. However, life took a 360 degree turn for them after the MP tourism department decided to brand the rural cluster as ‘India’s First Craft Handloom Tourism Village’, turning Pranpur into an important tourist destination in MP. Tourists are taken on guided tours to the village where they can buy Chanderi silk directly from the weavers.

Chanderi Art on Walls

DIRECT SELLING HELPING WEAVERS

The walls of the weavers’ houses have been painted with Chanderi designs in vibrant colours with the help of a few art students from Ujjain to distinguish them from the non-weavers’ houses.

Now, the weavers houses can be identified by the art on their walls and tourists can step directly inside. On stepping inside, they can watch the weaving of Chanderi silk in progress in looms and they can pick and choose what to buy,” said Mr. Shukla.

As this is direct selling, it helps both the buyer and the seller. Buyer gets a fine Chanderi silk sari at a lesser price than the market rate while the seller gets a higher price.

The weavers also earn extra by dishing out delicious local cuisines, especially the Bundeli thali, which they prepare and serve in their homes. “The tourists get to taste the local cuisine in a village ambiance while watching the artisans in action. So, it is a win-win situation for all,” Mr. Shukla said.

Shuttle Selfie Point

TOURIST FRIENDLY MEASURES

To ensure that the visiting tourists have a good time and do not suffer any inconvenience, the tourism department has added some city features to the village, like a cafeteria for instance, which has been named the ‘Handloom Cafe’.

And to quench the thirst for selfies, a selfie point has been created where a giant shuttle, used in handloom weaving, has been installed. Other added features are an amusement park and an amphitheatre for kids and adults alike.

The tourists get a complete package – a tour of the entire village through its vibrant and colourful lanes, visit to weavers’ homes to see them churning out the unique Chanderi silk, and then topping it up with a healthy homemade meal of the local Bundeli cuisine at the weaver’s home. “So, besides buying a beautiful Chanderi silk sari of their choice, they also learn how it is made, and then get a feel of life in a Madhya Pradesh village by sharing a freshly cooked traditional meal with the weaver’s family,” Mr. Shukla said.

This fine example of amalgamating rural tourism with handloom and textiles has a fine tagline attached to it, too – ‘Har Ghar Utpadan, Har Ghar Bikdi, Pura Gaon Bazaar’.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Kolkata Metro BEML
BEML Supplies 17 Advanced Trainsets for India’s First Underwater Metro; PM Inaugurates Kolkata Metro Link
hydropower projects
Power Ministry Issues New Guidelines for Hydro Projects; CEA Approval Mandatory, Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Exempt
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services
IAS Sanjay Garg Appointed OSD at BIS, to Take Over as DG in Nov; IAS Chandra Sekhar Gets Addl Charge as Parliamentary Affairs Secretary
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
Mohan Yadav
MP CM Mohan Yadav Pushes for Sustainable, Community-Driven Rural Water Policy; Targets 100% Tap Coverage by March 2027
Ajay Bhadoo IAS
IAS Ajay Bhadoo Gets Extended Term as DGFT - What It Means & His Career Journey
THDCIL_Receives_ABMS_Certification_for_Integrity_and_Transparency
THDC India (THDCIL) Awarded ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Certification by BIS - Details Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Kolkata Metro BEML
BEML Supplies 17 Advanced Trainsets for India’s First Underwater Metro; PM Inaugurates Kolkata Metro Link
hydropower projects
Power Ministry Issues New Guidelines for Hydro Projects; CEA Approval Mandatory, Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Exempt
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT