Handicrafts are the artistic products made by the skill of the hand without the help of modern machinery. It is a type of work especially used as decorative items. Crafts are integral part of Indian society which represents its cultural diversity. Each region of India has its own uniqueness in terms of arts and crafts. South Indian handicraft has its own charm and glory which have attracted the attention of large number of tourists from across the globe. The popular South India Handicrafts are:

Woodcrafts

Woodwork is a popular craft in South India because this region is endowed with abundant forests which are rich in different varieties of wood. Wooden handicrafts includes items like carved figurines, decorative pieces, furniture and accessories, utensils, beads, panels and many more. Woodcraft of South India has distinct styles which are known across the world. Channapatna in Karnataka and Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh are known across the world for its wooden toys. Karnataka is famous for carvings and exquisitely beautiful decorative pieces made from sandalwood.

Stone Carving

Stone carving is another major handicraft of South India. During South India Tour tourist can see varieties of stoneware made up of yellow lime stone and colored white marble. Some of them are in filigreed, fretted marble or sandstone. One can see the best of stone carvings in South Indian temples whose intricate carvings are known across the globe. Some of the places where one can see the best of stone carvings are Meenakshi and Rameshwaram Temple of Tamil Nadu, Tirupati and Gundala Mallikarjuna Swami Temple of Andhra Pradesh and Cave and Vithala Temple of Karnataka.

South India is the area encompassing states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. These four states are famous across the globe for its natural and cultural diversities. These states are also famous across the globe for its arts and crafts. The popular handicrafts of these states are:

Handicrafts of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is known across the globe for its wide range of South Indian silk saris which are famous for its fabrics, design and colorful compositions. Among all the silk garments Kanchipuram silk is the most popular one. The other popular handicrafts of this state are objects made from palm leaves and Palmyra fibers, metal ware, brass and bronze statues, hand woven clothes and beautiful jewellery.

Handicrafts of Kerala

Kerala popularly known as God’s Own Country is renowned for its speckled charm of nature. Along with the natural beauty this state is also known for its handicrafts which are popular across the globe. Some of the popular handicrafts of Kerala are ivory, gold and silver jewellery, bamboo mat paintings, different types of lamps, Kathakali masks and dolls.

Handicraft as the name suggests is the art of making various articles with hand. Also known as craft-work, this is an art to be learned by constant practice and firm determination. Handicraft is being associated with India for long. This is a prevalent art of the country since the Mughal reign. The handiwork products are specifically made by skilled artisans, who have gained proficiency by tradition.

Handicrafts represents the rich heritage of a country. Artisans and craftsmen indulge in bringing forth the history, culture and tradition of the nation in handcrafted items. In this context, India is deeply engrossed into making of handicrafts. The rich vibrant color of these hand-made items has established a grand global market. Manufacturing of various crafts such as pottery, ceramics, clay pieces, paintings, sculptures, antique furniture, textiles, paper craft etc has helped in generating enough revenue of the handicraft industry.

In Asia, these industries give an additional employment and raise the level of living for both rural and urban people. The market share of global handicrafts industry counts 100 billion. Handicraft industry serves a dominant role in the development of economy of the rural mass and earns substantial foreign exchange.

Handicrafts reflect the tradition of a particular place. It carries tales dated back to 1000 years of the kings and queens, and tells stories about a particular culture and its heritage. Wooden handicrafts such as wooden figures, gold painted figure, wooden chess set, wooden animal figure and other Indian Wooden Handicraft Items are designed beautifully by the craftsman. The vast range of handicrafts showcasing the rare artistry skills and innovations comprises of handicraft jewelry, handicraft home furnishing items, handicraft decorative items, handicraft table accessories, handicraft antique armory, handicraft paintings, handicraft garden accessories, toys, etc.

When one has a close look at these wooden items, they truly reflect spirit of Indian Craftsmanship along with the right shades of traditional beauty and style. They are popularly used as gift articles due to their beautiful appearance. Indian handicrafts are well known for its ethnic and traditional designs. Handicraft is quite flourishing in the Indian industry due to its vast diversity and rich cultural heritage. Sculptural handicrafts are displayed in an exquisite range of sculptural moulded figures made from varied bases like metals, stones, wood, etc. Macrame handicraft items obtainable as ladies bags, napkin holders, telephone mats and related paraphernalia designed artistically are specimens of excellent craftmanship. The handcrafted costume jewelry embellished in gold, silver, platinum, white metal, crystal, glass, etc. and studded with precious and semi-precious stones is another feature that add to the rich repertoire of Indian handicraft and gift items.

India is a land where exporting is much a necessity than a preferred choice. It is a highly populated land where commerce and business are the need of the hour. And then, India is also a leader in various fields, and the abundance of few specialized items can afford it to export such items. However, when we talk about the Indian Export Business, do we easily think of Handicraft industry? Not really, because Agriculture as a major export area is a famous and popular concept, overshadowing many other fields.

India is indeed one of the major exporters of handicrafts and gift items. Owing to a heritage of rich art and craft culture in ancient times, Indian Handicraft sector is recognizable for their most popular craft items like earthenware, pottery, woodwork, sculpting, scarves, shawls, textiles, embroidered and knitted goods, zari items, jewelry, etc. Indian Handicraft goods have a great demand overseas, as they are a perfect mix of traditional designs with modern techniques. The export of Handicraft items in India is growing exponentially, and so-much-so that it is emerging as the second largest employment generating sector after Agriculture. Hence, a large number of artisans are engaged in designing pottery and other craft work.

# Wooden ware- Saharanpur, Hoshiarpur, Srinagar, Amritsar, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mysore, Madras, Kerala, Behrampur
# Marble and Stone Craft- Jodhpur, madras, Agra
# Zari Goods- Madras and Rajasthan
# Art Metal- Moradabad, Aligarh, Rewari, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Delhi, Madras, Beedar, Kerala, Jaisalmer
# Jewelry- Delhi, Moradabad, Kohima
# Papier Mache items- Kashmir, Rajasthan and Bihar