Bhagalpuri Sarees: Tussar, Ghicha, Munga, Linen and Kota Staple

Bhagalpur sits on the banks of the Ganga in Bihar, and its weavers have worked in tussar silk for well over a century. Ask anyone who wears Bhagalpuri cloth what they like about it and the answer is usually the same. It is soft, it breathes, and it looks quietly good through a long day.

We buy directly from weavers in Bhagalpur, and our Bhagalpuri collection holds tussar, ghicha, munga silk, handloom linen and Kota staple. This guide explains each one, so you know what you are looking at before you ask us about a piece.

Tussar and ghicha

Tussar is the cloth Bhagalpur is best known for. It has a natural, slightly textured surface and an understated sheen, closer to daylight than to a heavy festive silk.

Ghicha is its own story. Our ghicha sarees are handwoven in Bhagalpur from tussar silk yarn and sold as tussar ghicha. We have written about them in detail in our guide to ghicha silk sarees, and you can see the current pieces in the ghicha collection. Each ghicha saree we hold is strictly one of a kind.

Munga silk

Munga is another silk made in Bhagalpur, and it sits in our Bhagalpuri collection beside the tussar. We keep its description simple: a silk saree from Bhagalpur, and many of ours carry hand embroidery. If you want to know how a particular munga piece feels in the hand or falls when draped, ask us and we will show it to you.

Handloom linen

Our linen sarees are handloom, woven in Bhagalpur from 120 lea linen. Linen is cool and crisp, and it softens the more you wear it. For care, we suggest dry cleaning, with a little starch if you like the crisp look. The full story is in our post on handloom linen sarees from Bhagalpur, and the pieces are in the linen collection.

Hand embroidery on Bhagalpuri cloth

We do hand embroidery across much of the Bhagalpuri range, on silk, tussar, ghicha, munga and linen. A plain Bhagalpuri cloth is quiet. Embroidery gives it a reason to come out for a wedding lunch or an evening at home with family, without making it loud. Because the work is done by hand, the placement and the colours differ from one piece to the next.

Kota staple for everyday and gifting

Kota staple is the easy, everyday saree in this range, made in Bhagalpur. It is not Kota Doria, which is a separate cloth from Kota in Rajasthan. Ours is woven with cotton and viscose. The cotton keeps it soft to handle, and the viscose gives it a gentle sheen and a fuller, richer look than you would expect at this level. That combination is why it works for daily wear and for gifting. If you are choosing for someone else, our gifting collection gathers pieces for that purpose.Bagh prints on Bhagalpuri cotton

If you searched for Bhagalpuri cotton sarees, you may be looking for something else we make. Some of our Bagh hand block prints are printed on Bhagalpuri cotton cloth. You can see them in the Bagh hand block collection, and more cotton pieces are in the cotton collection.

Ask before you choose

Most of our pieces are one of a kind, so the one you like may be the only one we have. Before you decide, ask us anything: how a cloth drapes, how heavy it is, how the embroidery looks in daylight. We can also show you the saree on a private WhatsApp video call. Browse the Bhagalpuri collection and message us about whichever piece catches your eye.

FAQ

What is a Bhagalpuri saree?

A saree woven in Bhagalpur, Bihar, a town known for tussar silk. Our Bhagalpuri collection also includes munga silk, handloom linen and Kota staple.

Is Kota staple the same as Kota Doria?

No. Ours comes from Bhagalpur. Kota Doria is a separate cloth that comes from Kota in Rajasthan.

Do you offer embroidery on Bhagalpuri sarees?

Yes. Many of our Bhagalpuri pieces carry hand embroidery, on silk, tussar, ghicha, munga and linen.

Can I see a saree before I decide?

Yes. Message us on WhatsApp and we will show you the piece on a private video call.