India GO
KSIC Silk Weaving Factory, Mysuru
The KSIC Silk Weaving Factory on Manandavadi Road in Mysuru is where the government-made Mysore Silk saris are woven, and visitors can walk in and watch the looms. Entry is free and the factory is closed on Sundays. The factory showroom next door, run by the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC), is open from 10 am to 7 pm.
The famous Mysore Silk saris aren't woven in some abstract "factories"; they're made at the government KSIC factory on Mananthavadi Road, and you can simply walk in and watch.
On weekdays (roughly 10:00–15:30, with a lunch break) visitors are let onto the factory floor free of charge: rows of looms, threads of pure silk, and the gold zari border taking shape before your eyes. There's no polished guided tour. Workers themselves will happily show you what's what, and that's exactly the charm.
Next door is the factory showroom (10:00–19:00), the most reliable place in the city to buy a genuine GI-tagged Mysore Silk sari or scarf, with prices and authenticity you don't have to second-guess. Even if you're not buying, twenty minutes among the looms turns "Mysore silk" from a souvenir label into a craft you've actually seen.
Watch Mysore silk being woven
Tickets
Timings and entry
- Factory floor: open to visitors on working days and closed on Sundays, according to the India GO database. The guide's note is roughly 10:00 am to 3:30 pm with a lunch break; KSIC does not publish visiting hours for the factory, and travel guides give other times (for example 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Saturday), so arrive late morning rather than near closing.
- Factory showroom: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, according to KSIC. Whether it opens on Sundays is not stated.
- Entry: free. There is no formal guided tour; workers on the floor often show visitors what is happening at their looms.
What you see inside
Karnataka Tourism describes the visit as a chance to watch raw silk being turned into fabric. On the floor that means rows of looms, threads of pure silk, and the gold zari (metallic thread) border of a sari taking shape. Mysore Silk saris are known for their lustre, plain elegance, and the use of pure silk and gold zari.
History: from the palace to KSIC
The factory was founded in 1912 by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV of Mysore. At first it wove silk for the royal family and ornamental fabric for the state's forces. After independence the Mysore State Sericulture Department took it over, and in 1980 it was handed over to the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation, a Government of Karnataka company, which still runs it.
Mysore Silk holds a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, meaning the name is legally protected; Karnataka Tourism describes the GI-tagged saris as produced at the KSIC factory in Mysuru.
Buying silk at the showroom
The showroom next to the factory is the most reliable place in the city to buy a genuine Mysore Silk sari or scarf: prices are fixed and authenticity is not in doubt. KSIC saris start at a few thousand rupees and go well above a lakh (₹1,00,000) for heavy zari work. KSIC's own test for pure silk: a burnt thread smells like burning hair and leaves a black residue, which artificial silk does not. Karnataka Tourism notes that KSIC's Mysore Silk can also be found at Cauvery emporiums across the state.
How to reach
The factory and showroom share the premises on Manandavadi Road (Mananthavadi Road), Mysuru 570 008. Showroom phone, per KSIC: 0821 248 0801. KSIC also has a separate showroom at KR Circle in the centre, but the looms are only here.
❓ FAQ
Is the KSIC silk factory open on Sunday?
The factory floor is closed on Sundays. The showroom's Sunday hours are not stated by KSIC, so call 0821 248 0801.
Is there an entry fee to visit the factory?
No, walking through the factory is free.
Who owns KSIC Mysore Silk?
The Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation, a Government of Karnataka company. The factory itself was founded by the Maharaja of Mysore in 1912 and passed to KSIC in 1980.
Is KSIC a government or private company?
Government: it is owned by the Government of Karnataka.
What is the difference between KSIC and Mysore silk?
Mysore Silk is the GI-protected product; KSIC is the state corporation that makes it at this factory and sells it in its showrooms.
Why is KSIC silk expensive?
The saris use pure silk and gold zari, and the name is GI-protected, so prices reflect the materials and the guaranteed authenticity.