Pashmina shawls are a symbol of lavishness and luxury and also the embodiment of the ethereal beauty of Kashmir that is reflected in their texture. Believed to have originated in Nepal, Pashmina or cashmere wool is considered as the softest in the world and keeps one very warm. The wool that is used to make the exquisite Pashmina shawls is obtained from a kind of goat called Capra Hircus (Chyangra) that is generally found at an altitude of 12,000 ft where temperatures dip as low as minus 40-degree Centigrade. Pashmina has also been mentioned in the epic Mahabharata where it was a favourite of the emperors and nobles. The art of making clothes from Pashmina is believed to be as old as 3000 BC and it is said to have graced the home of many kings and queens like Napoleon and Marie Antoinette.