Channapatna – The grass roots

The amazing streets of Channapatana are brimming with bright wooden toys that can't be found anywhere else. The small village produces a plethora of wooden toys that are both unique and display the craftsmen's undeniable talent.

The place is known as Gombegala nagara in Kannada, which means "town of toys." Channapatna is a town in Karnataka's Ramanagara District. The wonderful toys manufactured by the town's small-scale manufacturers draw a large number of visitors. The town of Channapatana is a must-see on the road to Mysore from Bangalore.

The Tiger of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, was the first to introduce the art of creating wooden toys to India, notably Channapatna. He recruited Persian painters to instruct the locals in the mid-1700s, thus establishing the initial roots of this traditional craftsmanship in India. In Channapatna, the art blossomed thanks to his encouragement. It eventually became a skill that was passed down through the generations.

A renowned Channapatna toy depicting a giant tiger slaying a British soldier was manufactured for Tipu Sultan. The wind instrument that causes the tiger to roar and the soldier to moan in anguish is truly a wind instrument. A tiny model of this can be found in Tipu Sultan's summer residence in Bangalore.

Bavas Miyan is another name you'll hear in connection with the history of Channapatna toys. He is recognised in this town as the "Father of Channapatna Toys," but little else is known about him. He is reported to have incorporated Japanese manufacturing techniques, making the process more efficient. Bavas Miyan is said to have dedicated his life to preserving this heritage art.

During the Dasara holiday, Channapatna dolls became famous. During the Golu or Gombe Habba, they are kept. During this time period, demand for these dolls continues to climb. Due to competition from more current toys and cheaper Chinese imitations, demand for them in the children's toy market has plummeted.

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