Once considered a quintessential cultural element, Khanyari (Rainawari)Tiles were used in every traditional house of Kashmir to decorate the floors. In the past, the glazed tiles were made by a large community of artisans from Khanyar, Srinagar. At its peak, people in that Mohalla would make 50000 tiles a day, reduced to barely a 100. Now there is only one artisan left who continues to make these tiles – Haji Ghulam Mohammad Kumar (76). He has been associated with the craft for the past 60 years, and makes multiple designs in the shape of square, star and khatamband. He learnt the unique art of making coloured, glazed clay tiles art from his father and grandfather. These tiles can still be found in some old buildings and shrines.

Making of Khanyari tiles is a labourious process. The tiles are entirely handmade and are made from different raw materials including Zinc and glass, copper, and iron dust for red colour and black from dry (battery) cells.