A Kashmir willow bat is one souvenir that actually gets used back home. On 11 September we posted a reel of our guests from Poland doing exactly that: they were given a Kashmir willow cricket bat to take home, plus a quick demonstration of how it's done. The cover frame shows one of them walking out of a roadside sports shop on the highway, bat in hand, in bright sun. As the caption puts it, they "took home a piece of our cricket culture".
Watch it on our Instagram: our Polish guests with their Kashmir willow bat and a batting demo (11 Sep 2026)
Guests ask us about this stop all the time, so here's what we tell them: where the bats are made, how Kashmir willow differs from English willow, how to check one in the shop, and how to get it home on a flight.
Where Kashmir willow bats are made
Almost all of them come from one stretch of National Highway 44 in south Kashmir, between Srinagar and Anantnag. The best-known stop is Sangam, about 50 km south of Srinagar where Pulwama district meets Anantnag. Down To Earth counts more than 150 bat units and shops along the highway there. Halmulla, also on NH44 in Anantnag district, has bat shops with big posters of cricket stars out front, and there are makers around Bijbehara too.
You'll know you're there before you see a sign. Stacks of willow clefts (the rough planks a bat is shaped from) sit drying beside the road and on rooftops, and the workshops and shops sit side by side.
The trade is bigger than it looks from the car. The Hindu, quoting government data, puts it at 195 registered bat manufacturers in Kashmir plus about 150 cleft dealers. Industry estimates in The Hindu BusinessLine go as high as 400 to 450 units, mostly in Anantnag district. Makers also say good willow is getting harder to find, which is worth knowing when you compare prices between shops.
Why it's an easy stop on your trip
Our drive from Srinagar to Pahalgam runs down NH44 through this belt before turning off towards the Lidder valley, so the bat shops come on the way, not as a detour. Pampore, where saffron is sold, is on the same road nearer Srinagar, and our Pahalgam cab already stops at the Avantipur ruins and an apple orchard. A lot of guests fit it all into the Pahalgam day: saffron at Pampore, a bat at Sangam or Halmulla, and on to the valley.
Tell your driver in the morning that you want a bat stop, and keep 20 to 30 minutes for it. Picking a bat properly takes longer than you think.
Kashmir willow vs English willow
Here's the part most shopkeepers won't explain. Kashmir willow and English willow are the same tree, Salix alba var. caerulea. The difference comes from where it grows.
- Kashmir willow is denser and harder. A 2017-18 study of Kashmir bat units measured an average wood density of about 0.498 g per cubic cm. That makes the bats a bit heavier for their size and more durable.
- English willow is softer and lighter. It usually has more, straighter grains and gives a little more rebound off the middle. It also costs far more, which is why so many club and school players in India start with Kashmir willow.
- Poplar is not willow. The same study notes poplar is used for low-quality bats. A poplar bat is fine for soft balls, not for a leather ball. Ask the shop straight out: "Willow ya poplar?"
Kashmir willow isn't only for beginners, either. At the 2022 T20 World Cup, UAE batter Junaid Siddique hit a 109-metre six with a Kashmir-made bat, and Down To Earth describes Sangam's GR8 as the only ICC-approved bat maker in Kashmir.
Kashmir willow bat for leather ball: what to check in the shop
Tell the shopkeeper first what ball you'll play with: leather, tennis or tape ball. It changes what they'll show you. Then check these yourself:
- Grains. Look at the face of the blade. Straight, evenly spaced lines are what you want. Kashmir willow usually shows fewer grains than English willow, and that's normal.
- Cracks and the toe. Small knots or marks on the face are mostly cosmetic. A crack, especially at the toe or the edges, isn't.
- Pick-up. Hold it in your batting stance. Two bats of the same weight can feel very different. If you're unsure, take the one that feels lighter.
- Size. Buying for a child? Bring them along or know their height. A bat that's too long slows a young player down.
- Grade. Shops sell several grades. Ask which grade you're holding and compare two or three before you pay.
Knocking in before a leather ball
A new willow bat needs knocking in before it faces a leather ball: a light coat of oil, then patient tapping of the face and edges with a wooden mallet so the fibres compress. Ask the shop if your bat is already knocked in, and if it isn't, how long they recommend. Don't skip it, or the face can crack in the first few balls.
Carrying a cricket bat on a flight from Srinagar
Don't put it in your hand luggage. India's aviation security regulator (BCAS) lists cricket bats among the sporting goods not allowed in cabin baggage, and Air India's restricted-items page says the same: cricket bats go in checked baggage, not in the cabin.
- Pack it in your checked bag, or check it in on its own in a bat cover, ideally wrapped in cardboard or bubble wrap.
- Check your airline's size and weight allowance for checked bags before you buy a long bat. Air India also lists cricket kit under its special baggage rules.
- Flying abroad, like our Polish guests? Check your international airline's sports-equipment rules too, since they can differ.
Other things guests buy on the same road
If you're stopping for a bat, these go well with it:
- Saffron at Pampore. Read our Pampore saffron shopping guide first so you know what real saffron looks like.
- Pashmina. Our pashmina shopping guide explains how to check a shawl before you pay.
- Walnut wood carving. Boxes and small pieces travel well. See walnut wood carving in Kashmir.
For everything else on the way, our Kashmir tourist places for 2026 list covers it, and the Pahalgam travel guide has the valley itself. Fares for the drive are on our Srinagar to Pahalgam taxi fare page and our Kashmir cab service page.
FAQ
What is the price of a Kashmir willow bat?
It depends on the grade, size and maker, and the highway shops sell everything from children's bats to top-grade blades. We don't publish bat prices. Compare a few shops, and call us if you'd like a rough idea for your budget before you go.
Where can I buy a Kashmir willow bat?
Straight from the makers on NH44 in south Kashmir. Sangam, Halmulla and the Bijbehara area are the main stretch, and it's on the way to Pahalgam.
Can I see a bat being made?
Tell us before your trip and we'll check which maker can show you around that day. Always ask before you walk into a workshop or start filming, and keep clear of the machines.
Add a bat stop to your Kashmir trip
Want a bat stop on your Pahalgam day, or have a cricket-mad kid at home to shop for? Call or WhatsApp us on 70060 85655 (or call 7006085655). Our second line is 9596044418. Tell us your dates and who's travelling, and we'll send a quote and plan the stops. We're registered with J&K Tourism (JKEA00005366).
Photo credits: "Kashmir willow Cricket Bat" by Arv94, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. "Srinagar to Pahalgam - vrvvkbjk2k23iph (131)" by Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. "Bijbehara" by KennyOMG, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. All images resized and cropped by TravelEtiosKashmir.
Quick answers
Where can I buy a Kashmir willow bat?
Buy straight from the makers on National Highway 44 in south Kashmir. Sangam, about 50 km south of Srinagar, Halmulla in Anantnag district and the Bijbehara area are the main stretch. It sits on the drive to Pahalgam, so the bat shops come on the way rather than as a detour.
What is the difference between Kashmir willow and English willow?
They are the same tree, Salix alba var. caerulea; the difference comes from where it grows. Kashmir willow is denser and harder, so bats are a bit heavier and more durable. English willow is softer and lighter, usually with straighter grains and more rebound, and it costs far more. Poplar is not willow.
Can I carry a cricket bat in hand luggage from Srinagar?
No. India's aviation security regulator, BCAS, lists cricket bats among items not allowed in cabin baggage, and Air India says the same. Pack the bat in your checked bag or check it in on its own in a cover, wrapped in cardboard or bubble wrap, and check your airline's size allowance first.
How long should I keep for a bat stop on the Pahalgam drive?
Tell your driver in the morning that you want a bat stop and keep 20 to 30 minutes for it, because choosing a bat properly takes longer than you think. Many guests combine saffron at Pampore, a bat at Sangam or Halmulla, and the Avantipur ruins on the same Pahalgam day.
Who wrote this
Zahid Majeed, founder of TravelEtiosKashmir. A local Srinagar operator working from our desk at Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, planning private trips across the valley with a team of five since 2025.
J&K Tourism Travel Agent Reg. No. JKEA00005366 · Call or WhatsApp +91 70060 85655 · +91 95960 44418 · About us
