Kondapalli Toys

Firstly, they are colourful wooden toys from a small town called Kondapalli  in the state of Andhra Pradesh.As a matter of fact, they are known for their vibrant colors and they are lightweight. The toys are made from Tella Poniki wood, (white Sander ) or ‘Jiuotia Rotteri Fromis'(botanical name)  wood native to that region. Tella Poniki is soft and lightweight, making it easy to carve. It is sturdy  and durable when dried. For instance, each part  of the toy is carved  out separately and then  glued together  subsequently. Further,  a local adhesive called tumma jiguru, which is a resin from the tumma tree ( Gum Arabica ), or a mixture made of  of tamrind seed powder & saw dust is used for the glue. They are painted with oil  or enamel colours  and vegetable dyes.Toys depicting of soldiers, farmers and mythological characters are crafted. Sometimes they depict village themes,mythological stories and so on.

The toys are said to have originated with the community of craftsmen who migrated from Rajasthan to Kondapalli.  The history of Kondapalli toys dates back to the 16th century. The village Kondapalli is 25 km from the city of Vijayawada. There is a main street called Toy Street. Every house is a cottage industry where the whole family is involved in making these toys. Kondapalli toys are safe with no sharp edges.They are non plastic items and environment friendly as well.

The toy industry provides livelihood to several people. These toys are also exported out of the country as well.

Available at Lepakashi