Indian Jewelry » Sapphires India

World's finest blue sapphires are found in the Padder area of the North Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir. But, the mine, situated in remote, forbidding mountainous area, remains snowbound for almost three quarters of the year and has encountered many technical and administrative difficulties.

For many years, official mining remained suspended because of lack of security, as foreign terrorists infested the area. The infiltrators also clandestinely exploited the mine in a very crude way, which has damaged it extensively. Now the State Government is endeavouring to resume mining there. Global tenders were invited recently. A mining concern of Rajasthan has been chosen for awarding the mining contract. Terms and conditions were under negotiations when reports last came in.