Nongpoh set to host India’s first Integrated Textile Tourism Centre
Nongpoh, a quiet hill town, is located on the highway between Guwahati and Shillong. It now stands at the centre of a major textile story for Meghalaya.
On December 6, the state government joined the Ministry of Textiles for the launch. They opened the Integrated Textile Tourism Centre at the Handloom and Sericulture Complex in Nongpoh.
A single campus for looms, learning and visitors
The ITTC will work as a one-stop centre that links heritage, training, production, and tourism on one campus. The Office of the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts under the Union Textile Ministry funds the project, while the state government supports the campus and local outreach.
Planners want farmers, spinners, weavers, designers, traders, and tourists to share the same space in Nongpoh. They want visitors to see how yarn grows from the farm, moves to the loom, and reaches stores in finished form.
Eri silk sits at the heart of the centre
The new centre puts a strong focus on Eri silk, also known as Ahimsa silk, because rearers do not kill the silkworm during extraction. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Mann Ki Baat address, called Eri silk a living heritage of Meghalaya and praised its gentle production process.
He also noted that Eri cloth keeps people warm during winter and cool during summer, which makes it useful across many climates and markets. Global buyers now look for such slow, low-impact fabrics, and the ITTC plans to use this interest to support local rearers and spinners.
EKTA Meghalaya will turn the ITTC into a live showcase
During the launch, the campus will also host EKTA Meghalaya, which expands as Exhibition cum Knowledge Sharing for Textiles Advantage. The Central Silk Board and the state Textile Department will set up stalls that display silk innovations, handloom products, jute-based goods, and newer technical textiles under one roof.
Designers, cooperatives, and youth groups will share new fabric blends, updated loom designs, and market-ready products beside classic wraps and shawls. Visitors will walk through live demonstrations, short learning sessions, and storytelling corners that explain how local skills grew over generations.
Leaders see a growth path for artisans and youth
Union Minister Giriraj Singh often speaks about the strong role of the Northeast in India’s silk story, especially Eri and Muga, and he stresses value addition inside the region instead of sending raw cocoons outside.
Minister of State Pabitra Margherita focuses on artisan incomes, skill training, better tools, and space for young entrepreneurs who want to build brands from local fabrics. He also praises Meghalaya for its lead role in Eri silk production within the country.
What this means for locals and visitors
For rearers and weavers, the ITTC can offer steady training, market links, and a direct channel to buyers who understand the story behind each shawl or cloth. For students, the campus can act as a live lab where they see how design, technology, and culture meet on the loom.
For travellers, Nongpoh will no longer be just a midway halt on the highway; the ITTC can turn it into a planned stop for craft walks, studio visits, and silk shopping that supports families across the hills, adding new strength to Meghalaya tourism in the process.
