Cooch Behar, West Bengal

Cooch Behar Sitalpati

Sitalpati is a thin, silky-white bed mat handwoven from 'mutra' cane slips that are soaked in rice water for 24 hours, boiled, washed and sun-dried before being woven into a fine mesh, with some strips dyed magenta to form patterns. Cooch Behar, along with Sagareswar, Ghugumari and Pashnadanga among its weaving villages, is the most renowned sitalpati-producing centre of the sub-Himalayan region apart from Tripura and Assam. The district won the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its sitalpati in 2024 and the district administration now promotes it through exhibition centres for tourists. Buyers get a lightweight, durable, naturally cool sleeping mat traditionally used through the hot summer nights.

Typical price: ₹1500-3500

Buying tip: Full-size mats from Cooch Behar weavers and traders (e.g. Ghugumari and Mathabhanga) sell for roughly Rs 2,150-3,200 on local listings, so compare weave tightness and size before paying. Look for GI-tagged mats and buy from the district's promotion centres or weaver outlets, which also ship across India.