Rajasthan Art And Crafts

The arts and crafts of the colorful state of Rajasthan are very appealing. The creative sense and the artistic skills of the people of Rajasthan are worth praising and are very inspiring. The arts and crafts of this state have been inspired from its rich historic past and area reflection of the cultural heritage of this state.

Arts And Crafts Forms
Jewellery and Gemstones:
The traditional jewelery of this state is very much inspired from the Rajput designs. Rajputs always preferred gold and silver jewelery. These hand made jewelery had exquisite designs and were beautifully carved. Even the ornaments made from the precious stones like emerald, diamond, pearl, garnet were also quite popular among the ladies. Most of the ornaments were and are still made in Jaipur and Jodhpur. The jewelery made of Kundan is the specialty of this state. The state of Rajasthan is also one of the largest exporter of the precious gem stones that are hand-cut. Cat's eye, lapiz-lazuli, carnelian, garnets etc are very popular among the foreign travelers. Today they have become a symbol of the Rajasthani arts and crafts.

Paintings
Today Rajasthan is known for the different forms of paintings that have become a identity of this state. Miniature paintings, courtly paintings, cloth and furniture paintings, henna designs, paintings made for decorating houses are the different types of this art form. Some of the major centers of this art forms are Jaipur, Nathdwara and Kishangarh. Some of the paintings are even decorated with semi-precious stones. In ancient times these paintings were an important part of the royal court. Even the painters were given many privileges by the Kings.

Metal Works:
The art of metal works in recent times have gained importance in Rajasthan. They are mainly used for decorative items such as tabletops, wall plates and flasks. The beautifully carved decorative items of iron and brass are quite famous among the foreign tourists. The engravings on these items are so fine and very elegant. They have royal look. Jaipur, Alwar and Jodhpur are the prominent cities that are indulge in the metal ware work.

Puppets
They are the most sold out souvenir items of Rajasthan. They are an integral part of the in-build heritage of this state. The puppet dance depicts the tales of bravery and love of the Kings and Queens. They are most liked by the children. Today many puppet dance shows are organized to attract the travelers.

Carpets
The hand woven carpets of Rajasthan are very popular in the foreign Countries. They are available in different sizes and colors. They are one of the most exported item of this state. Travelers traveling Rajasthan never forget to purchase these carpets. They are mainly made of camel hair. In earlier times these carpets were specially woven for the royal families. This particular craft form was very much inspired from the Mughal empire. Today Bikaner is the biggest manufacturer of these hand made carpets or durries.

Fabric work:
While visiting Rajasthan one can buy the beautifully embroided fabric material. The most popular designs that are used on these materials are known as bandhej. Block printing and batik are the most widely used forms of printing fabric. After printing and dying these fabric are decorated with small mirrors and stones. Bikaner and Sikar are the famous center for this craft form.

Pottery
Introduced by the Muslims the blue gazed pottery of Jaipur was popularized by the Maharaja Ram Singh. It is built by the grounded quartz stone mixed with fuller earth and sodium sulphate rather than the normal clay. Earlier only blue and white colors were used to decorate these pottery. Today many colors are being used for it. Most of these pottery items are painted with hands and mostly flower prints are used on it. The people of Molela village in Udaipur are the best painters. The paper thin pottery are made in Alwar and painted pottery are made in Bikaner.

Visit Rajasthan and explore the different art and craft forms of this amazing state.