Travelling around India also serves as an excellent introduction to its astonishing and, oftentimes, quite unique crafting heritage. While these generations-old skills are captured for longevity in the humble village homes across the country, visitors can pick these handicrafts from urban bazaars or even directly from the artisans. These keepsakes are perfect for taking home a slice of the places you visit that will always fuel happy holiday memories of this fascinating country.
Agra
The Taj Mahal is the best showcase of the craftsmanship of Agra’s stone carving artisans. You can see this in the exquisite jaali (lacy stone carving) and inlay work. While the delicate perforation work for the design in the stone needs special handling, the semi-precious stone inlay in marble produces the most magical results. Wander the tightly packed bazaar to pick up your own takeaway in marble from this historic Mughal bastion. Agra is also famed for its rich zardozi embroidery, mirrorwork, rugs, leather craft and glassware from nearby Firozabad.
Chennai
Renowned from ancient times for its handloom textiles and silks, Chennai is a paradise for craft collectables. From the nearby coastal town of Mahabalipuram, south of Chennai, are sourced some of the most exquisite, handcrafted granite stone sculptures. Famed for its UNESCO World Heritage shore temples, the town was also declared a World Stone Carving City by the UNESCO affiliated World Crafts Council in 2015. You can also pick up stunning local woodworks and basket ware, silk sarees from Kanchipuram and bronze items and gilded religious paintings from Thanjavur.
Jodhpur
The vibrant bazaars of this desert outpost are a reminder of its importance on the ancient caravan route, which linked up with the Great Silk Road in Central Asia. Nai Sarak bazaar is a haven for locally crafted tie and dye fabrics, lehriya print sarees and dupattas, and colourful turbans and leather crafts. The Mochi Bazaar is where you can pick up the famous Jodhpuri juttis (footwear), available in variations of colour, design and hand embroidery. Tripolia Bazaar is awash with handicrafts and textiles from all over Rajasthan. Popular too is Jodhpur’s unique painted furniture and Jodhpuri trousers.
Pondicherry
Long renowned for its exquisite hand-made paper items and handcrafted leather goods and woodcraft, this French colonial hub offers inspirational insights into its Tamilian pottery traditions. You can visit Auroville to watch artisans create this famous native red and black pottery, in which both the men and womenfolk are involved. What is even more fun is that since there’s no middleman involved, you can pick up the items directly from the artisans from the nice display of the reasonably priced products at the workshops.
India’s crafting heritage is an endless saga of unique traditions, immortal beauty and exceptional human talent sequestered in its vast rural landscapes. Each region has its own gem-like offerings, and a concerted effort is being made now to ensure their survival for generations to come.