The Toys of Channapatna

Channapatna, a small town which is now known for its toy making, lies between Bengaluru and Mysuru in Karnataka, India. As in most small towns, economic and social life revolves around the vicinity of a mosque or a temple.

From a small village leading off a main highway, Channapatna has grown into a small town, with many shops displaying their local toys. There is a sharp contrast between the quality of goods made for local sales and those for urban markets and export.

A procession celebrating a religious occasion winds through the streets of Channapatna with all its ceremonial trappings.

The toy making community is one of the few that is self-sufficient within its geographical area. Raw material shops, woodcutters who reduce big logs to smaller pieces, all live in the town or nearby.

Shops that entertain casual visitors and the local population to buy their familiar ‘home- made’ toys, are also within the town of Channapatna itself. A healthy boost of financial support by the state government also helps to sustain and enable the craft to grow.

Wooden rocking horses are made for the local market in Channapatna.

Resin and dye-stuff for colouring are obtained from the nearby forest. Wood seasoning facilities and other common facilities are provided by the government and conveniently located in Channapatna, making it easy for the artisans to work at their craft.

Local toy shops in Channapatna toy town are full of articles for locals and visitors interested in the craft. The shopkeepers do not pay much attention to style and presentation.

All kinds of handmade wooden toys are available in the stores, which are all around the place. All shopkeepers naturally hate customers who try to bargain. The “Fixed Rate” sign hopes to ward them off!

In contrast to the randomly piled displays in tiny shops in Channapatna, a sophisticated store in Bengaluru has the toys displayed aesthetically, with the special intention of promoting this precious tradition of handmade toys.

Read more about the toy making tradition of Channapatna here:

- A Portrait Gallery of Channapatna Artisans
- Channapatna Toys: A chain of artisans create a toy