Legend has it that a Pashmina shawl that travelled from Kashmir to Iran reached the hands of the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in Egypt. He gifted this to his wife Empress Josephine, who initially rejected it and then took a great liking to this delicate warm fabric that she soon owned over 400 pashmina shawls at a cost of over 20000 gold francs. The Pashmina Shawl appeared in a French fashion magazine in 1790s and was by now a fashion icon in Paris and soon to be the prized possession of the ladies of the high society in Europe. Kings, adventurers, explorers all had to ensure that on return home, nothing less that the Pashmina Shawl or Kashmir Shawl could do. Well before Europe discovered Pashmina, the Mughal courts already flaunted it. It has been an important commodity in the Caravans on the Silk route trade and was known as the “Soft Gold”. Wars were fought and treaties signed to claim and control this pashmina trade routes.

It still remains the most coveted fibers in the world and has its origin in this land of High Mountains. Join Shoba George, a travel designer, as she beautifully weaves the story of this trail, which has been carefully curated to foster a  connection with the land, people and culture.