India is a land of rich culture and heritage. From the Pashmina of Kashmir to the silk of Kancheepuram, every stretch of India has a special craft. But few know of this little village in Andhra Pradesh, where every household has a toymaker.
As you leave the NH 30 behind, you enter a small swaying road, that weaves its way through the old Bahmani kingdom. The road leads to a what seems a simple village, but it hides the secret of being India’s toy village.
The hamlet of Kondapalli has more than 100 years of history in making wooden toys. The name of the village itself translated to a ‘wooden toy’.
The artisans who work on crafting these wooden toys are called the Arya Kshatriyas, which apparently has got a mention in the Brahmanda Purana. It is said that they migrated from Rajasthan during the 16th century to Kondapalli and claims their origin to Muktharishi, a sage endowed with skills in arts and crafts by Lord Shiva.
Image Credit: tripoto
But more than the wooden toys, the village has gained popularity for the manufacture of dancing dolls, also known as Thanjavur dolls, a form of art which has been adopted from the state of Tamil Nadu.
Image Credit: trover
The village also hides a treasure of an ancient fort. The historic fort on eastern Ghats is located to the west of the Kondapalli, and was built by Musunuri Nayaks during the 14th century. The fort has a rich history, and was used for many years until the British who used it as a garrison fort.
Image Credit: panoramia
The fort, which has a very picturesque sight, has three successive entry gates. The main entrance gate is called the ‘Dargha Darwaja’ built with single block of granite. At the far end of the fort there is the Tanisha Mahal or Palace, perched on a crest between two hills. The fort is made more enchanting by the English cemetery within its precincts.
You can reach Kondapalli by a short ride from Vijayawada. If you are visiting the region for Guntur or Amravati, you must surely plan a trip to this village with a rich history and living heritage.
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