Shop Address:
Tella Ralla Mitta, Chittattur Village, Thottambedu Mandal, Thottambedu - 517 640

Home Address:
Kalamkari Research & Training Centre, Plot No. 4, Sai Nagarm Near Thottambedu Bedu MRO Office, Chennai Road, Sri Kalahasti - 571644, Andhara Pradesh

Note:

The Andhra Pradesh Kalamkari evolved with the patronage of the Mughals and the Golkonda Sultanate. Kalamkari art was once called 'Vrathapani'. There are two distinct styles of kalamkari - The Machilipatnam style and the Kalahasti Style.Machilipatnam style is made at Pedana near Machilipatnam.

Kalamkari is the art of painting on cloth and derives its name from the word 'kalam' meaning pen or brush. Traditionally, Kalamkari paintings were used to decorate temple chariots used in religious processions or stretched behind the idols of Gods. The designs usually have a main central panel and are surrounded by smaller blocks arranged in rows which depict the major scenes from a legend. It may also have verses from original texts written in black ink beneath the rows.

Traditionally, the craftsmen of Srikalahasti painted stories and scenes derived from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which include the story of Krishna and themes from the environment like the Tree of Life. The cloth to be painted is dipped in a mixture of milk and 'harda' and dried in the sun. The design is outlined on the cloth with a bamboo sliver using 'kasimi' - a black dye made from iron filings and jaggery. The interior of the design is then painted with various natural dyes one after another, each involving a laborious process of application and washing. Red colour is obtained by painting the relevant part of the design with alum, washing in running water and then dipping in a dye of madder.