https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Ancient Art Gets New Lease of Life as Karnataka Woos Tourists with Craft Village

Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation is developing an artisans’ village into a major tourist attraction It has cracked deals with online platforms for the sale of unique handicrafts of this village
Indian Masterminds Stories

The state of Karnataka has a rich history of art and culture. However, many ancient arts are dying because of the lack of support and encouragement to artisans, whose families have been passing these art forms from generation to generation, thereby preserving them. Already struggling to keep their art alive, these artisans have had to suffer more after the outbreak of Covid 19 and the resultant lockdowns and subsequent restrictions. Taking note of the hardships they are facing, Managing Director of Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation, D. Roopa Moudgil is trying to help the artisans by promoting their work. In conversation with Indian Masterminds, the 2001 batch IPS officer talks about a ‘Craft Tourism Village’ and explains how they plan to sell handicrafts online. 

REMODELING ANEGUNDI AS A ‘CRAFT TOURISM VILLAGE’

Situated on the northern banks of Tungabhadra river, the village of Anegundi was previously known as Kishkindha – Kingdom of Vanara (monkey) – in olden times. The village is situated on the opposite side of the World Heritage Site – Hampi. Although Anegudi is lesser known, it is much older than Hampi. The village was a part of the Vijayanagar empire, and broken remnants of that era can be found scattered over the area even now, bearing testimony to the glorious past. 

The village is also known for items made of banana fibre as banana plants grow aplenty in the area. Bags and baskets made of banana fibre are popular with both locals and tourists alike. The artisans who make these beautiful items live, make, and sell in the village only. However, what they lacked was good exposure of their handicraft. When this caught the attention of the Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation, Anegundi was selected as a model village for craft tourism. It is now being remodeled as a ‘Craft Tourism Village’ to attract tourists.

TOURISTS TO HAVE FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE OF ARTISANS’ LIVES

The Managing Director of the Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation, IPS D. Roopa Moudgil is hopeful that after visiting Hampi, tourists will flock to this craft village. “They will be shown how the artisans live and work. The most important thing now is to make the village attractive. So, number of projects have been taken up in the area, including the renovation of the artisans’ houses, development of a café in a mix style of modern and traditional architecture along with an open restaurant. We are also renovating the houses of the artisans and trying to replicate the ancient architecture wherever possible,” she said, adding that Anegudi village will soon become a hub of craft tourism in the state. 

MARKETING CRAFT ONLINE FOR MAXIMUM VISIBILITY

Due to efforts to Ms. Roopa, now the artisans could directly sell their crafts on Flipkart, Amazon & PayTm

Karnataka is known for its sandalwood art and carvings, ‘bidri ware’ (metal handicraft from the Bidar area) and rosewood carvings. With online purchasing quite popular these days, the officer now plans aggressive online marketing of these handicraft products so that people buy them. “We were almost invisible in online avenues. Now, the products are available on Flipkart, Amazon and PayTm. We have also revamped the online website. The results are encouraging as we are witnessing good online sale and artisans are getting direct profit,” she said.

Ms. D. Roopa also informed that sandalwood and ‘bidri’ wares are their USPs, and these products have been GI (Geographical Indication) tagged so that their uniqueness is preserved for all time to come. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Hindustan Shipyard Limited HSL
PESB Declines to Recommend CMD for Hindustan Shipyard; Ministry May Extend Current Chief’s Tenure
IAS Ajitabh Sharma
“80% of Time Spent on Non-Core Tasks”: Rajasthan Principal Secretary Ajitabh Sharma Questions IAS Work Culture, Calls for Reform
Nitin Gadkari
India to Become Net Energy Exporter in 6-7 Years, Highlights Hydrogen and Biofuels: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
Bank of India - BOI
Bank of India Plans to Raise Rs 20,000 Crore via Infrastructure Bonds in FY 2025-26
BEML Limited
For Operational Excellence, BEML Lays Foundation of State-of-the-Art Central Warehousing Centre in Bilaspur
rec-logo
Green Energy Boost: REC Forms New Subsidiary for 3GW Ananthapuram-II REZ Transmission Project
Bhupendra Patel CM Gujarat
CM Bhupendra Patel’s Pro-People Move: Uniform House Tax of ₹200 Annually for Rural Government-Assisted Homes in Gujarat
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar: Gaya to Become Bihar’s Largest Industrial Township Under AKIC; ₹16,524 Cr Investment Expected
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Why Has the DGCA Fined Air India Rs 5 Crore Since Privatisation?
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
Iran Is Weakest Now, Needs a Face-Saver
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
Retired Officers Lead 7-Day Mission to Revive Betwa River with 55 Check Dams | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-18 at 10.31
"I Just Wanted to Breathe Again": The Man Who Fought Death and Made It to UPSC
Struck by COVID at the peak of his UPSC prep, Devanand Telgote spent months on ECMO, unsure he'd live,...
Social Media
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Hindustan Shipyard Limited HSL
PESB Declines to Recommend CMD for Hindustan Shipyard; Ministry May Extend Current Chief’s Tenure
IAS Ajitabh Sharma
“80% of Time Spent on Non-Core Tasks”: Rajasthan Principal Secretary Ajitabh Sharma Questions IAS Work Culture, Calls for Reform
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT