Arts and Crafts of India

The earliest specimens of Indian arts and crafts go back 4500 years to the Indus Valley Civilization, also known as Harappa, and include jewellery, seals, pottery, toys, games, terracotta, bead making and bronze figures. The finer crafts of India flourished over the centuries due to royal patronage and for trade. Jewellery, embroidery, silk, brocades, ivory and bone carving, carpets and silver were in great demand in the country and elsewhere. However, the colonial era, industrialisation and independence saw a decline and many craftsmen gave up their professions.

In Northern India, Kashmir is the centre of carpet weaving that was imported into the region from Persia. However, Kashmir is also famous for embroidery and the region is known worldwide for Pashmina shawls, and for decorated papier-mache bowls, boxes and trays and for fine carving in walnut wood. There are many Tibetan refugees in the state of Himachal Pradesh, who have brought with them their craft of making colourful Tibetan rugs and jewellery and added to Himachal’s existing tradition of Kullu shawl-making and miniature pahari painting.

In Uttar Pradesh, while the city of Varanasi produces world-famous silks and brocades, Lucknow is famous for delicate embroidery work 'chikankari' done on light fabrics. As befits the home of the Taj Mahal, Agra is famed for its marble-inlay, often incorporating precious stones. In the heartland of India lies Madhya Pradesh, where handicrafts lend a touch of mystique. A deftly woven silk or a cotton blended saree, block-printed fabrics, folk paintings, bamboo, cane or jute work, woodcraft, zari work (gold thread embroidery), ornaments, dolls...each hand-crafted product of Madhya Pradesh is charming enough to sweep you off your feet.

In South India, the state of Karnataka is noted for its fine silks and handicrafts. A range of finely carved sandalwood and rosewood figures, wooden inlay, toys, brassware, gold and silver jewellery are other well known handicrafts of the region. In Tamil Nadu you can buy splendid handloom silk and cotton fabrics, especially the silk sarees from Kanchipuram in vibrant colours. A range of finely crafted bronzes, brass lamps, and Thanjavur paintings are other options in Tamil Nadu. In Ooty chunky silver jewellery and hand embroidered fabrics are major attractions.  Popular souvenirs from Kerala include Kathakali models in wood or papier-mache, miniature snake-boats, restrained rosewood carvings, as well as the sea-shell confections. Also in Kerala, and to a lesser extent in Tamil Nadu, you will find beautiful and incredibly vibrant miniature paintings on leaf skeletons.

Andhra Pradesh has a rich tradition with craftsmanship handed down from generation to generation. Bidri, the most famous handicraft of this state, is a metal craft that derives its name from Bidar, the hometown of this exquisite craft. Kalamkari hand painting with vegetable dyes is another speciality of the state. Hyderabad today, is the largest pearl centre of India where you can buy exquisite pearl jewellery and also silk and cotton sarees from Pochampalli, Venktagiri, Nayudupet, Gadwal, Narayanpet and Dharmavaram.

The arts and crafts of the east are epitomized by terracotta and pottery handicrafts, folk bronzes and kantha needlework from Bengal. The state of Orissa reflects its temple traditions with soapstone carvings of extraordinary intricacy, and appliqué work from the village of Pipli, originally home to the workshops that produced the enormous covers of the deities of the Jagannath temple in Puri.

Arunachal Pradesh offers a variety of wood carvings, carpets and shawls. In Shillong, in the state of Meghalaya, one can have an interesting experience of seeing people of different tribes in colourful traditional attire. Here, one can get good bargains for hand-woven shawls, handicrafts, orange flower honey and cane work.

Manipur specializes in handloom which is a cottage industry in the state and almost every household owns a loom, with women, busy in the creation of typically unique native designs. Mizoram offers a variety of traditional Mizo handicrafts and especially the bamboo hat that is made of waterproof wild Hnahthial leaves. Tripura is known for its exceptional hand-woven cotton fabrics with tribal motifs, wood carvings, decorative articles made from bamboo roots, bamboo and cane furniture and other exquisite handicrafts.

Rajasthan excels in enamelling, lacquer and filigree work and block-printed silks and muslin. Mirror work is another art native to this area. For Western tastes, the heavy folk-art jewellery of Rajasthan has special appeal. Jaipur is famous for its ‘blue pottery’ and semi-precious stones, Jodhpur for antique styled furniture, and Udaipur is particularly well known for the reproduction of old miniature paintings.

Gujarat is renowned for its exquisite handicrafts and offers the best of furnishings, furniture, textiles and jewellery, which would appeal to even the most discerning buyer. The famous Sankheda wooden furniture is a Gujarat speciality. Also famous are storage boxes, metal jewellery, copper bells, baked clay items and a host of other delightful crafts. Gujarat also produces beautiful, hand-woven tie-dyed textiles, popular chakla patchwork and glass wall hangings. Intricate embroidered garments include skirts, blouses, kurtas and jackets. The Rann of Kutch is renowned for its mirror work.

Although Mumbai is a gigantic emporium attracting goods from all over India, two of the most well-known handicrafts of Maharashtra are Kolhapuri chappals and the Paithani sari in silk, bordered with opulent zari. Handloom silks are Aurangabad’s chief delights, as are the delicate muslin and silks of Khambat (better known as Cambay). The traditional crafts of Goa include pottery and terracotta items like flower garden pots, bowls with floral designs, figures of saints, Gods and Goddesses and animals, ashtrays and pen holders. Goa is also famous for brass metal casting, a craft passed on from one generation to another.