Himachali Handicrafts — Wood Carvings, Metalwork & Traditional Arts
# Himachali Handicrafts
Chamba Rumal — Embroidered Textile Art
The Chamba Rumal is one of India's rarest textile art forms — hand-embroidered cloths depicting scenes from mythology, created using the "dorukha" (double-sided) technique where the embroidery looks identical on both sides with no visible knots. Originated in the Chamba court 300 years ago. A single piece can take 2-6 months. Price range: ₹2,000-50,000+ depending on size and complexity.
Wood Carving
Temple Carvings
Himachali temples are masterworks of woodcarving — deodars, walnuts, and horse chestnuts carved into intricate panels depicting gods, animals, and geometric patterns. Many temples are 500-1,000 years old.
Decorative Pieces
Kullu and Kinnaur artisans create boxes, frames, bowls, and deity figures from deodar wood. The natural oils in deodar make it insect-resistant and beautifully aromatic. Look for pieces at Shimla's Lakkar Bazaar (literally "Wood Market").
Kangra Miniature Paintings
The Kangra school (18th century) produced luminous paintings of Radha-Krishna, Gita Govinda illustrations, and nature scenes. Original paintings are now in museums worldwide, but high-quality giclee reproductions on handmade paper are available.
Metalwork
Chamba and Kullu Brass
Traditional brass utensils, lamps (diyas), and decorative pieces. The "gharats" (water mills) of Chamba have been making brass items for centuries.
Tibetan Metalwork (Dharamshala)
Singing bowls, prayer wheels, dorjes, and ritual implements crafted by Tibetan metalworkers in McLeodganj. The singing bowls are both beautiful objects and functional meditation tools.
