Woodcraft along the river: Etikoppaka

Etikoppaka is a small village about 1 km square on the banks of the river Varaha. It’s what the name translates to: a group of homes on the river’s edge. Its name conceals what it’s known for: it is where one of India’s finest wood crafts is made. There are about 100 artisan families in the village, working on and practicing the craft. Similar to its Karnataka cousin, the more famous Channapatna, the artisans work on natural ivorywood (botanical name: Wrightia tinctoria) to create the striking pieces.