The origins of hand-knotted carpets can be traced back more than 2000 years. Introduced in 15th century, the art attained a high degree of perfection till 16th and 17th centuries under the Mughal emperors. Mughal emperor Akbar invited some Persian carpet weavers to set up a workshop in his palace. They introduced the art of pile carpet weaving in silk and wool. It was further encouraged and developed by Akbar's successor, Jahangir and later Shah Jahan. Surprisingly, Indian carpet weavers soon started producing superior quality than the finest products of Persia. During Shah Jahan's reign Indian carpets became famous outside country also. Some of the fine pieces of art of those days are still present at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and in other museums in Europe and the United States.

The rulers of Amber-Jaipur took a great interest in carpets and owned a large collection of 16th and 17th century Persian and Mughal carpets. Raja Man Singh I of Amer took the skilled artists to train the local workers and Jaipur, Bikaner and Amer became the prominent centers of carpet weaving. The carpet industry in Jaipur started only in the mid 19th century when carpet making was introduced as a jail craft. Woolen and cotton both type carpets are produced at Rajasthan.

The woolen and silk carpets are more renowned than the cotton vegetable fibers' ones. Each region developed a distinct style of carpet weaving. Rajasthan carpets are known for their fast color, design and quality of craftsmanship. Hand knotted carpets have floral or angular motifs. The carpet designs are mostly based on Persian and Caucasian styles. Peacocks and flowers are the popular motifs. Landscapes and geometric designs are other popular patterns. With time, regional and traditional designs have also come up. Each carpet is like a treasure and is owner's pride for life long.

The fineness of a carpet is judged from the number of knots per unit area. Other criteria are design, colors and quality of yarn. The firmness, thickness and appearance of the back of a carpet are the important considerations in determining the quality of the carpet. The quality ranges between 100 to 200 knots per square inch. The best quality carpets made with high-grade wool develop a beautiful luster after use and therefore old carpets have special values. It is believed that carpets should never be dry-cleaned. Instead, they should be washed with ritha, which is a kind of hard berry used to produce a rich lather with which the carpet is brushed. This helps in maintaining the originality of the carpet.

Another demanded product in this category is traditional cotton carpets of Rajasthan called Durries. A Durree is a cool, light rug, which is closely hand-woven with geometric patterns and repeating colors. Rajasthani durries are smooth and of pastel shades. Durrees of Ramgarh, woven with a cotton warp and left are especially rich in design, and conveniently light in weight. Durries are lighter and easier to maintain and can usually be washed at home. They are suitable for a hot and dusty environment as of Rajasthan. Also, being less expensive and long lasting, they can be purchased in suitable quantity. Durries come in numerous designs although the most common are stripes of different colors and geometrical designs. Sometimes animal and bird motif are also used. Though the traditional cotton durries of Jaipur, Jodhpur are, mostly in pastel shades and geometrical motifs, but still brighten any dullest floor.

Traditionally, the duree is divided in two categories, one that is used on the bed instead of a mattress or below a thin cotton mattress and the other which is used as a floor covering. The former variety is smaller in size and is made on a pit-loom while the latter is made on an elementary loom. The wrap for the duree is laid by fastening one end of the thread to a bamboo fastened at one end of the loom, and leading it to and fro between it and another bamboo at the other end. The thread is carried from the lower side of the bamboo at one end over to the top side of the bamboo at the other, thus producing a web of which the threads cross in the middle. The threads of the wrap are kept compact and even by striking between the lines of the wrap with a kind of folk having a wooden handle and iron teeth and called a Kangi or Panja. Panja durries are also produced on commercial scale at Jaipur and Bikaner.

Rajasthani Namdas are woollen druggets. A namda is prepared by spreading wool with certain quantities of cotton evenly on sackcloth. This is moistened with a special solution, which is pressed into the felt either by treading upon it or by applying pressure by hand. Namdas are generally ornamented with embroidery and appliqué work. Bikaner is known for these 'numdas' or small rugs. Chakma and Ghogi, nearly similar to numdas, are made at Malpura in Rajasthan. Woolen Namda of Tonk, which are not woven are also very popular. Namdas produced at Tonk are in great demand.

Rajasthan's floor covering industry shares a big chunk in exports from Rajasthan. The traditional style of carpets have been revitalized to suit the needs of the modern buyer. Rajasthani carpets have great demand in markets not only in India but also abroad. Jaipur is one of the thriving centre for carpets and durrees today. Some of the largest importers of Indian carpets are Germany, USA , Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.