Types of Sarees in India – Saree Names by State, Fabric and Occasion

India has hundreds of saree styles. Almost every state has its own weave, print or drape, and many sarees are named after the town where they are made. This guide explains the main types of sarees in India in simple words – by state, by fabric and by occasion – so you can understand saree names and pick the right one for you.

There are three easy ways to group saree types:

• By weave or craft – the place and the method, like Banarasi, Kanjivaram or Bandhani.
• By fabric – silk, cotton, georgette, chiffon, organza and more.
• By occasion and style – wedding sarees, party wear sarees, daily wear sarees and new styles like ready to wear sarees.

Famous Sarees of India at a Glance

Types of Sarees by State

Here are the most famous sarees of different states, grouped by region. Click a saree name to see that collection.

North India

• Banarasi (Uttar Pradesh) – woven in Varanasi with gold and silver zari. It is the most popular bridal saree in North India.
• Chikankari (Uttar Pradesh) – soft hand embroidery from Lucknow on georgette, cotton or chiffon.
• Kota Doria (Rajasthan) – very light sarees with tiny square checks called khats. Great for hot weather.
• Leheriya and gota patti (Rajasthan) – wave-like tie and dye stripes and shiny gota borders, made for Teej and weddings.
• Pashmina and Kashmiri sarees (Jammu and Kashmir) – warm, soft sarees with fine embroidery, perfect for winter weddings.

South India

South Indian saree types are mostly silk and handloom cotton weaves. Many of them are called pattu sarees, because pattu means silk in Tamil and Telugu.

• Kanjivaram (Tamil Nadu) – heavy mulberry silk with a contrast border that is joined to the body. The first choice of South Indian brides.
• Chettinad cotton (Tamil Nadu) – thick, soft cotton with bold checks and stripes.
• Kerala kasavu (Kerala) – the Kerala type saree: off-white or cream with a golden border, worn for Onam and weddings. The traditional two-piece version is called set mundu.
• Mysore silk (Karnataka) – light, smooth crepe silk with a soft shine and a zari border.
• Ilkal (Karnataka) – known for its deep red pallu with a topi teni design.
• Pochampally (Telangana) – ikat sarees where the threads are tie-dyed before weaving to make sharp geometric designs.
• Gadwal and Narayanpet (Telangana) – Gadwal has a cotton body with a silk border, and Narayanpet is known for checks and temple-style borders.
• Kalamkari (Andhra Pradesh) – hand-painted or block printed designs in earthy colours.

Andhra Pradesh is also famous for Mangalagiri cotton, Dharmavaram silk and Uppada silk sarees. See all South Indian sarees.

East and North-East India

Bengali saree types are light and easy to wear, which suits the hot and humid weather.

• Tant and laal paar (West Bengal) – crisp cotton tant sarees, and the white saree with a red border that women wear for Durga Puja.
• Jamdani (West Bengal) – fine handwoven motifs that seem to float on a light fabric.
• Baluchari and Kantha (West Bengal) – Baluchari silk shows stories on the pallu, and Kantha sarees have running-stitch embroidery.
• Sambalpuri (Odisha) – ikat sarees with motifs like the conch (shankha), wheel (chakra) and flower (phula). Odisha is also known for Bomkai sarees.
• Mekhela chador and muga silk (Assam) – a two-piece outfit, often in golden muga silk, worn for Bihu and weddings.
• Tussar silk (Bihar and Jharkhand) – silk with a natural golden sheen and a rich texture. Bhagalpur in Bihar is famous for it.

West and Central India

Maharashtrian saree types and Gujarati saree names are some of the most searched, so here they are in one place.

• Paithani (Maharashtra) – silk with a peacock pallu and zari border. It is the most famous Maharashtrian saree.
• Nauvari (Maharashtra) – a nine-yard saree draped like a dhoti, also called kashta style.
• Patola (Gujarat) – double ikat silk from Patan, where both the length and width threads are dyed before weaving. A real Patan patola takes months to make.
• Bandhani and gharchola (Gujarat) – tie and dye dots; the gharchola is a red bridal bandhani with a zari grid. Gujarati brides also wear the panetar, a white saree with a red border.
• Ajrakh (Gujarat) – hand block printed in Kutch with natural dyes like indigo.
• Maheshwari (Madhya Pradesh) – light silk cotton sarees with stripes, checks and neat borders. Madhya Pradesh is also home to the sheer Chanderi saree.

Types of Sarees by Fabric

The fabric decides how a saree feels, how it falls and how easy it is to manage.

Silk Saree Types

• Pure silk (mulberry silk) – the silk used in most silk sarees, including Kanjivaram and Banarasi.
• Tussar, muga and eri – wild silks with a natural texture. Muga silk from Assam has a golden colour.
• Soft silk – lighter silk that is easy to drape for long functions.
• Tissue silk – silk woven with metallic threads for a soft shine.
• Art silk and semi silk – made with man-made or blended threads. They look like silk but cost less and are easier to care for.

Types of Cotton Sarees

• Mul cotton (mulmul) – very soft and fine, perfect for summer.
• Handloom cotton and khadi – woven by hand, with a natural texture.
• Regional cotton saree names – Tant, Kerala kasavu, Chettinad, Kota Doria, Mangalagiri and Sambalpuri cotton.
• Linen and silk cotton – cool, breathable and smart for office wear.

See all cotton sarees.

Light and Party Fabrics

• Georgette – light, flowy and holds pleats well. A good first saree.
• Chiffon – even lighter and softer than georgette.
• Organza – sheer and crisp, very popular in pastel and floral designs.
• Net, satin and velvet – glamorous fabrics for parties, receptions and winter weddings.

Types of Banarasi Sarees

Banarasi sarees are grouped by fabric and by design. By fabric, the main types are katan (pure silk), organza or kora (sheer silk with zari), georgette and shattir. By design, you will hear names like jangla (all-over plant and flower patterns), tanchoi (patterns made with coloured silk threads), cutwork, butidar (small motifs) and tissue Banarasi with a golden shine.

Types of Sarees by Occasion and Style

• Bridal and wedding saree types – Banarasi, Kanjivaram, Paithani, gharchola and tissue silk are the classic choices. Red, maroon and green are the most popular bridal colours. See wedding sarees.
• Party wear – georgette, net and organza sarees with sequin, embroidery or stone work. See party wear sarees.
• Daily and office wear – cotton, linen, mul cotton and light silk cotton sarees in simple prints.
• Festivals – bright silk, Bandhani and Banarasi sarees for Diwali, Navratri, Karwa Chauth and pooja. See festive sarees.

New Types of Saree Styles

• Ready to wear (pre-draped) saree – the pleats and pallu are already stitched, so you can wear it in about a minute.
• Lehenga saree – the flare of a lehenga with a saree pallu.
• Half saree – a three-piece set of skirt, blouse and dupatta, popular in South India.
• Indo western saree – saree gowns, jacket sarees and other modern drapes.

How to Know What Type of Saree You Have

• Check the back. In a woven design, the pattern also shows on the back, often with loose threads behind zari work. A printed design is clear only on the front.
• Look at the border. In Kanjivaram sarees, the border is often a different colour and is joined to the body. Paithani has a peacock pallu. Ilkal has a red topi teni pallu.
• Look for labels. The Silk Mark label shows pure silk, and the Handloom Mark shows a handwoven saree.
• Read the product details. A good seller writes the fabric, the weave and whether the zari is real or tested.

Saree Types FAQs

How many types of sarees are there in India?

There is no fixed number. India has more than a hundred regional weaves and prints, and new styles keep coming. The ones in this guide are the most famous saree types.

Which is the most famous saree in India?

Banarasi and Kanjivaram are the most famous sarees in India, especially for weddings. Paithani, Bandhani and Patola are also very well known.

Which type of saree is best for a wedding?

Heavy silk sarees like Banarasi, Kanjivaram and Paithani are best for the bride. Guests can choose lighter organza, tissue or soft silk sarees.

Which type of saree is best for daily wear?

Cotton, linen and light silk cotton sarees are best for daily wear because they are breathable and easy to manage.

What is the best fabric for a saree?

It depends on the occasion. Silk is best for weddings, cotton and linen for summer and office, and georgette or chiffon if you are wearing a saree for the first time, because they are light and easy to drape.