Stone Carving of Andhra Pradesh

Durgi stone craft hails from the temple town village of Durgi in the Palnadu region of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. These are intricate stone carvings made from a special kind of lime stone which is native to the region. The craft originated at Durgi in the 15^th century and has flourished since then. At that time, sculptors realized the potential in using limestone over expensive marble and granite, giving birth to a new form of craft. The soft, whitish gray texture of the stone makes it ideal for creating ornamental sculptures of gods and goddesses. The craftsmen follow traditional carving techniques according to the Shilp Shastras. Today, a wide range of products are curated in order to expand the commercial reach of this craft. Apart from auspicious idols and statues, beautiful decor items are made using stone carvings.

The Allagadda town in Andhra Pradesh is regarded as an important center for sculptural stone carving craft. The sculptures crafted here are made from locally obtained sand stone which is heat resistant and durable. It is generally brown or yellow in color and its composition is such that it permits for intricate carving and detailing. Figurines of gods and goddesses are sculpted by strictly following the ancient Shilp Shastra manuscripts in the Vijayanagara style. Another variant of stone which is used in Allagadda to craft sculptures is the tough black-stone that varies in shade from grey to black and is customarily used to make idols of Lord Krishna. The craftspersons have extended their repertoire beyond sculptures of gods and goddesses to include items of decorative interior decor.