The story
Bagh, a small town in Dhar district on the Bagh river, is home to a hand-block printing tradition that uses carved wooden blocks and natural dyes in red and black on a white base. The river water is part of the washing and dyeing process. The MSME-DI Dhar profile lists Bagh print among the district's potential areas for new MSMEs, and Bagh Prints of Madhya Pradesh is a registered GI.
In numbers
Bagh Prints of Madhya Pradesh was registered as a GI in 2008-09 under application number 98.
Registration Details of Geographical Indications (GI Registry, IP India) · 2026
GI tag
- Bagh Prints of Madhya PradeshApplication no. GI Application No. 98Registration Details of Geographical Indications (GI Registry, IP India)
Ways in for a newcomer
- Natural-dye block printing for fashion and home-textile brands
- Online sale of Bagh-print products
- Wooden block carving and supply
- Craft workshops for visitors
Problems the cluster faces
- Cheap screen-printed copies
- Water availability for washing
- Marketing beyond craft fairs
Businesses to start here
Hand Block Printing Unit (Printed Suits) →Textile Printing (Screen Printing on Fabric) →Handloom and Handicrafts Retail Shop →Online Folk Art and Art Gallery Marketplace →