River Jhelum is a LLC partnership which evolved from a chance meeting in 1997 in New Dehli, India.

On a cold January day (45*F,cold for Dehli) Elizabeth Gazelle Burke met Bashir Hanroo at his rug shop. She bought seven chainstich rugs from him and liked them so much decided to try and import more to sell.

In 1998, Elizabeth and Bash opened a retail space at the Porter Square Shopping Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts named, River Jhelum (for the waterway in Srinagar, Kashmir where the rugs are made). For almost five years they exported from India and imported into the US the most exquisite chainstitch rugs they could find.

Selling them in Cambridge has been an enriching experience. Helping people choose rugs for their homes as well as securing business for the crafters had become their passionate and worthy endeavor.

By 2001 they were ready to launch their own label with each design offered in all sizes. The first shipment carrying the River Jhelum label arrived November 11, 2002. Chosen because they are proven sellers, these eight designs, as expected, are well appreciated. We now stock these eight designs in all sizes, and runners.

We are closing in Cambridge and opening and selling from our wholesale office /showroom space in Concord, Ma. , as of May 1st, 2003. Our rugs are stored here for easy access and we’re ready to ship out any rug in any size, anywhere in the world.

Finally we’re happy to announce a new era of working with customers developing custom colors and custom designs. Our highly skilled designers here and in Kashmir are ready to help you realize your exact color combination and/or custom design.

Elizabeth asked Bash what he would like to say about us on this page of the website. “We are happy people working very hard”, he replied readily. Considering this Elizabeth has to agree adding, “…and loving what we do”.