With winter approaching, quality shawls become a wardrobe essential for those seeking warmth and style. Among luxury winterwear, the Pashmina shawl stands out for its timeless elegance, crafted from the ultra-fine fibers of the Changthangi Mountain Goat. Originating in Ladakh in northern India, these shawls carry a rich cultural heritage and are highly sought after worldwide. However, the market is flooded with imitations, making it crucial to know how to distinguish a true Pashmina. Here’s a guide on identifying an authentic Pashmina shawl and ensuring your investment reflects its genuine beauty and craftsmanship. 5 Effective Ways to Spot A Real Pashmina Shawl Feel the Softness  The hallmark of genuine Pashmina is its uniquely fine softness without compromising warmth. A gentle stroke over Pashmina feels feather-light, with an even smoothness across its entire surface. In contrast, synthetic or blended shawls often feel coarse, stiff, and less flexible, lacking the delicate texture of authentic Pashmina. Read more: How to Declutter Your Wardrobe to Donate Some Clothes Observe the Weave Original Pashmina fabrics are handwoven with traditional techniques. It results in a distinctive, slightly uneven weave that reflects the artisanal craftsmanship behind each piece.  Machine-made shawls, on the contrary, have a uniform, flawless weave, lacking this character. Holding the fabric reveals subtle differences, with these irregularities highlighting the skill and heritage embedded in pure Pashmina, all without compromising its flexibility or warmth. Sunlight Test Authentic Pashmina doesn’t shine when exposed to sunlight, as its natural fibers absorb light rather than reflect it. If a shawl glitters in direct light, it likely contains silk, nylon, or other synthetic materials. Read more: How to Choose the Best Fabric for Your Suit Though finely woven, this fabric is not transparent, meaning sunlight does not pass or refract through it; instead, it effectively blocks light. Static Check To test for synthetic content, gently rub the edge of the shawl between two fingers. Synthetic fibers generate static electricity through friction, causing the fibers to stand upright. Since the original Pashmina is made from natural wool, friction does not generate static electricity. As a result, the fine wool fibers remain in place without standing up when rubbed. Read more: How to Identify an Authentic Bangladeshi Jamdani Saree? Flame Test This test should only be used when other methods leave doubts, as it is best avoided unless necessary. It remains a highly effective technique for verifying authentic Pashmina, but caution is essential. Gently pull a small thread from the shawl and burn it. Genuine Pashmina will emit a scent similar to burning hair and turn to fine, powdery ash. In contrast, synthetic fibers will begin to melt, releasing a plastic-like odor and leaving a hardened residue as they burn. In a Nutshell Spotting a real Pashmina shawl requires attention to key characteristics that distinguish it from its synthetic counterparts. Texture, weave patterns, and burn tests offer physical indicators, while sunlight transparency and friction behavior further help identify natural versus synthetic fibers. Each method ensures an investment in a genuine piece of luxury crafted from Changthangi goat wool, embodying traditional craftsmanship. These five steps provide a reliable approach, enabling the selection of a true, high-quality shawl suited for warmth in winter and elegance. Read more: Personal Grooming Tips and Tricks for Better Life and Career

Believe it not, the world's highest motorable road is now in India. The Army's Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed the road at an altitude of 19,300 feet at Umlingla Pass in the cold desert region of Ladakh, the Indian government announced on Wednesday. "The 52-km long tarmac road through Umlingla Pass beats the previous record of a road in South America's Bolivia connecting to its volcano Uturuncu at 18,953 feet," it said, adding that it will help promote tourism in the federal government-controlled territory of Ladakh. Read: Bangladesh, India start freight train services on Haldibari-Chilahati route The road has been constructed at an altitude higher than the Mt Everest Base Camps as the South Base Camp in Nepal is at an altitude of 17,598 feet, while the North Base Camp in Tibet is at 16,900 feet, according to the government. It is much above the altitude of the Siachen Glacier in the Himalayas. At 17,700 feet, the Siachen Glacier is touted as the highest battleground on Earth, where arch-rivals India and Pakistan have fought intermittently since 1984. Read: India, China establish sixth hotline between ground commanders along LAC Infrastructure development in such harsh and tough terrain in Ladakh is extremely challenging. During winter, the temperature dips to minus 40 degrees and the oxygen level is almost 50 per cent less than at normal places. "The Border Roads Organisation or BRO achieved the feat due to the grit and resilience of its personnel who work in treacherous terrain and extreme weather conditions," the Indian government said.

The disengagement process of the Indian and Chinese troops in a tense area of their contested border has been completed, local media reported on Friday.

Without any prior announcement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited a military base in remote Ladakh region bordering China where the soldiers of the two countries have been facing off for nearly two months.

At least 20 Indian soldiers have been killed in a border skirmish high in the Himalayas between the world's two most populated countries - India and China.