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A magical sojourn reverberating with age old culture and traditions, the state enfolds in its lap a diverse kaleidoscope of breathtakingly beautiful and fascinating art-de-facts. The range is unparalleled even while it is sophisticated in its simplicity.

It has something for almost every kind of traveler, revealing a vast range of arts and crafts, which is a treat for the visuals and are ready to be picked. The Bazaars spill with products and there is a magnificent glow of colours all over. Intricate work carved on handicrafts or the wonders of gems and stones, it has it all and even more like the colours dancing on the textiles and fabrics with silver or gold threads settings and complimented with the variety of Silk-threads, Beads, Gota, Zari, Zardosi, Banarasi, etc. designed by the age old families of skilled artisans.

The amazing use of clay in the form of sculpture and decorative arts, the paintings from different schools like Miniature, Mughal and the different Rajasthani shailis (school of art) and more are piled up, revealing the medieval splashes and recording historic and dramatic events. Almost capturing the senses!

The age old art of dyes and colours hold the centre of attraction

Jewellery

A magical sojourn reverberating with age old culture and traditions, the state enfolds in its lap a diverse kaleidoscope of breathtakingly beautiful and fascinating art-de-facts. The range is unparalleled even while it is sophisticated in its simplicity.


It has something for almost every kind of traveler, revealing a vast range of arts and crafts, which is a treat for the visuals and are ready to be picked. The Bazaars spill with products and there is a magnificent glow of colours all over. Intricate work carved on handicrafts or the wonders of gems and stones, it has it all and even more like the colours dancing on the textiles and fabrics with silver or gold threads settings and complimented with the variety of Silk-threads, Beads, Gota, Zari, Zardosi, Banarasi, etc. designed by the age old families of skilled artisans.

Miniature Art

This is the most visible and widely prevalent type of painting, colourful pictures painted in glowing mineral and vegetable colours on hand-made papers. The miniature painter did not lack patronage. Seven styles in different kingdoms developed rapidly (the technique was similar to wall paintings, cloth and manuscripts illustrations) used initially manuscripts for text illustrations, they gradually evolved as portfolios of the life and times of their Royal patrons. The miniature tradition goes back at least to the 11th century. Later the Mughal influence though their style was of Mughal court style, yet the painters by the 17th century settled for traditional idioms and regional elements. And the modern miniature painting speaks of those age-old traditions of Rajasthan.

Phads & Pichwais

The ancient tradition of scroll painting survives in Rajasthan as Phad. A typical Phad is a long rectangular coarse cloth with paintings illustrating the life and heroic exploits of the two popular folks heroes Pabuji and Dev Narain. It displays much of the tradition in narrative form. Painted by the Joshis of Shahpura, near Bhilwara based on subjects like Bhagavad purana or other popular folk stories.

The Pichwais are refined works of art, created to be used as backdrops in the Srinathji at Nathdwara. They contain the figure of Srinathji (attired with a variety of costumes) and scenes of Nathdwara festival. These could be painted, printed with hand blocks, woven, embroidered or decorated in appliqué form.

Folk Painting

Usually done for some specific occasions like marriage, birth ceremony and other festivals. This tradition is found in villages and rural areas practised by various tribes. They are very original, fresh and done with raw-hand.

Stone Carying

White marble, pink Dholpur, green Kota, white and grey soapstone everything is used to make elegant statuary, idols, figurines, carved panels, even elaborate jharokhas for gardens and pavilions. One of Rajasthan's most enduring arts that is evident in its prevalence in homes all over the state, stone carving is both an artistic as well as an industrial product.

Textile

The Textile of Rajasthan has a fascinating range of dyed and block printing fabrics. Each state has its own special colour-scheme design and technique. The various types of Textile are:-

Hand-block prints- the quilts of Sanganer, Bagru are the favourites.
Tie and dye- Bandhej, Bandani, Lehriya, Batik, Mothra, Ekdali, Shikari, Cheent comes under this category.
Bandhej- Bandhej of Jodhpur, Sikar, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Pali, Udaipur, Jaipur is more popular.
The lehriya is an entire line of cloth is dyed in different colours. Udaipur's lehriya work is well known.

Samdar Lehar, Phagun are the designs to be worn in the spring season.
Textile and fabric colouring and dying can be seen at length in the communities of Leelgarhs and Rangrez. The Chunari and Bandhej ( the art of tying a small point on the cloth by threads and later dyed with the required colours . After drying when opened, there is a small circle in the white splashed around the fabric)is known as tie and dye. Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner are famous for this. In addition, the art of embellished fabrics with embroidery using thread-work, mirror work or gold brocade is prevalent.

Block Printing in vegetable dyes is another famous art. Carved wooden blocks soaked in different colours and pasted on the fabric. Main Market of these products are Jaipur, Sanganer and Bagru.
Zari - Gota, zardosi, banarsi for formal and bridal ensembles, metallic and threaded embroidery.

Metal Craft

Some of the finest metal work in Rajasthan uses enamelled silver that is used for everything from pill-boxes to figurines. Brass enamel is less expensive, and more prevalent from table-tops to dancing peacocks, caparisoned elephants, dancing camels, swords and shields .In recent years, wrought iron has become popular, though this is more contemporary in its usage, than traditional.

Blue Pottery

An art form, from Persia under the patronage of Maharaja Ram singhji was first introduced in Rajasthan. A new art form with a fascinating recipe of distinctive material like the ground quartz stone. The colour schemes are also peculiar like, blue (oxide of cobalt), Green (oxide of copper) and the external white.
Some of the pottery is semi- translucent and lately is been experimented with other colours such as , yellow, dark blue and brown. The conventional floral or arabesque, hand made patterns and the animal figure patterns are the prominent designs. The various articles shaped out are mostly the traditional ones like surahis or pots of different shapes and size for multiple use, ashtray, tiles, flower pots, lamp shades, jars various accessories or interior items are the forte of this art of pottery.

Terracota

An age old craft in Rajasthan saw dust, mashed and mixed finely with mud and clay in a semi solid paste on which the image is sculpted and later dried and polished in colour retaining its natural hue, they make best of decorative items with authentic ethnicity .
Every village and community has its potters, and the pots for everyday use along with other storing vessels , hookahs, chillums, coin-banks ,pickle jars,etc...

Places where they made are:

Alwar: for paper thin kagji pottery.
Bikaner: known for its painted pottery tinted with lac colours.
Jaisalmer: stone wares
Molela (near Udaipur): wall plaques generally depicting the images of Heroes or the religious ones.
Pokaran: the potters make tiny bells with clay that resound like their bellmetal counterparts.

Dhurries & Carpets

The dhurrie, a simple rug that was once used as an underlay, has now become one of the state's best known weaving traditions. Weavers sit on looms in villages, creating an interesting blend of patterns- mostly geometric, sometimes floral- in an exciting combination of colours. Made from cotton yarn, in areas such as Bikaner and Jaisalmer, the camel-hair, woolen dhurrie too is available. In areas around Tonk, namdahs or felted rugs are manufactured.

Carpets first began to be manufactured in Rajasthan when weavers from Afghanistan were installed in the royal ateliers in the 17th century. Ever since, they have flourished here, with their exuberant colours and geometric motifs finding their way into showrooms around the world. Naturally they are available in the bazaars at a price far lower than they command in stores overseas.

Wood Artefacts

Wood - sometimes plain often painted - is used to make everything from furniture to artefacts. While the furniture ranges from the made-as old that is such a range all over the world, its contemporary variants include chairs with painted backs, camel-hide stools, marble-top tables and carved cabinets.

Artefacts include a range of animal - horses ,elephants, parrots- that are beautifully painted as well as boxes, chests snuff boxes and other interesting paraphernalia including dancing figurines and dwarpals or guardians of the doors.