Handmade in India

Subcluster of
CHITTOOR
Sri Kalasti
Chittoor
Madanpalli
Crafts of
CHITTOOR
Kalamkari
Bronze casting
Terracotta
Wood carving
RESOURCES
Craft Raw Materials Sources
Kalamkari Sari
Bronze
casting
Bahadurpet,Salipeta
Handwoven cloth Naryanapuram
Natural dyes:
Myrobalam
Surul pattai
(powdered bark)
Copper, Brass,
Zinc, Gold, Silver
Chennai
Assam
Rajamundry
Terracotta Clay Maelmayi,kothapalli
and Malleru
Wood
carving
Mango
wood,Seema,
Sindha rapali
wood, Neem
wood
Imported wood
Teak wood
Locally available
Chennai
Maharashtra &
Nigeria
Riverbed teak Bhadrachalan &
Kerala
Images of Lord Venkateshwara,the presiding deity at
Tirupati,are made in a variety of materials and
techniques as souvenoirs for pilgrims who visit the
sacred temple town in thousands.Seen here is a brass
plaque made by metal craftsmen in Chandur,Nalgonda
district.
1. Detail of a painting done
on the wall of a Rama
temple in Sri Kalahasti.
2. An artisan making the
handle of a flower basket
made in a palm leaf.Over
one hundred women have
been trained in palm leaf
work and have been
organized into a Palm leaf
Society in Nellore.
3. A kalamkari craftsman
making a sketch with a
charcoal on cloth in Sri
Kalahasti,well known for
the traditional of the
kalamkari painted textiles.
4. Potter in Guntavoor
making wheel-thrown clay
pots.
CHITTOOR IS SITUATED IN the geographical and cultural region
of Rayalseema that has irregular and scanty rainfall where droughts
are a regular feature.However,commercial agriculture temples
around the region suc as Tirumala,Sri Kalahasti adn Kannapa.The
Shiva Temple of Sri Kalahasti supports a number of crafts such as
stone carving and stringing of garlands.Sri kalahasti has been famous
for painted temple cloth hangings,kalamkari panels,used as
screens,canopies and to decorate chariots.The painters followed the
older traditions of mural painting on the walls of the temple in
Lepakshi in Anantapur district and evolved distinctive formats on
cloth to illustrate religious themes and the epics.Shri Venkateshwara
Temple in Tirupati is a sacred site visitied by thousands of
Pilgrims,Icons of Lord Venkateshwara or Balaji,a form of Lord
Vishnu,are made as souvenirs in stone,bronze and brass plaques and
papier-mache .The theme of Dasavtara,ten incarnations of Lord
Vishnu are depicted in kondapalli toys,ganjifa playing
cards,kalamkari,stone and wood carvings and Cheriyal scroll
paintings,Madanapalli town is on a higher altitude and has a small
population of potters.
ACCESS
Chittoor is well connected by road and railways.The nearest airport
is in Chennai.Madanapalli and Sri Kalahasti are well connecte by
bus from Chittoor.