Why in news? Bagalkot district administration has come up with an ambitious plan of organising handloom tourism, to popularise the Ilkal sarees and Guledgudd khana.

Highlights

• Bagalkot is considered one of the important hubs of traditional weaving as it is home to majority of handlooms
• This place is also known for its historical and religious places such as Badami, Aihole, Pattadakallu, Kudalasangama and others, that attract thousands of visitors from across India and the world.

What is the programme?

• The administration by organising tour packages to these weaving centres intends to bring more buyers to the doorsteps of the artists
• It also enables to make buyers understand the process it takes to knit one saree and the hardship faced by the weaving community
• The district administration with the help of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and the Tourism Department has trained guides at UNESCO-protected monuments to inform the visitors about the manufacturing process of the GI-tagged sarees
• This move will also cut the middlemen changers, which is beneficiary for both buyers and weavers

About Ilkal saree

• Ilkal saree takes its name from the town of Ilkal in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka state
• The growth of these sarees is attributed to the patronage provided by the local chieftains in and around the town of Bellary.
• TOPE TENI technique is used exclusively at Ilkal sari.
• The distinctive feature of this saris is the use of a form of embroidery called

About Guledgudd Khana

• It is a cluster of villages in Badami taluk of Bagalkot district of Karnataka State.
• The traditional GuledguddKhana (or fabric for Choli or Blouse) compliments the IIkal Sarees as this combination is widely used not only in the northern part of Karnataka but also in Marathawada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra.