The original Toy Story

Ferris wheels, rocking horses, drumming soldiers and bobbing Ganeshas are topping popularity charts in the United Kingdom. They all come from a tiny toy empire in a dusty Karnataka town, that Lara Pascoe made a trip to

Ferris wheels, rocking horses, drumming soldiers and bobbing Ganeshas are topping popularity charts in the United Kingdom. They all come from a tiny toy empire in a dusty Karnataka town, that Lara Pascoe made a trip to

Type: Craftu00a0and leisure
Best from: Bengaluru
You need: 2 days

Rediscovering the child in you is going to take no more than a car, a full tank and a free day. Sixty kilometres away from Bengaluru, on the Bengaluru-Mysore Highway, lies a little dollhouse secret.

The dusty toy town of Channapatna is a treasure trove of wooden crafts, and its industry of handmade lacquer toys is known the world over. Gombegala Ooru (toy-town) of Karnataka is what the locals call it.


Pull-me-along mouse on wheels


A ferris wheel for wooden kiddies

Leaving Bengaluru at 8 am on a Sunday for our full day of 'toying around', we skipped the traffic to be greeted by rolling hills just 40 kms along the highway. The view was delicious, as was a quick breakfast of spicy mango chutney and Idlis (Rs 30) at Suchithra Hotel (call: 9900684161).

Driving into the relatively uncrowded main drag of Channapatna 20 minutes later, we spotted a handful of colourful stores selling the world famous wares to tourists and local customers. There are up to 50 retail stores situated in the town itself, each selling individual handmade pieces.


The doggy whistle


A pecking chicken game

Sree Meenakshi Emporium (call: 9535395959) on the BM highway was teeming with families out on a weekend visit. The toys that are said to date back to the reign of Tipu Sultan who got artisans from Persia to train local craftsmen in the art, are priced between Rs 20 and Rs 350 depending on the complexity of design and size of the toy.


This mean machine's made from lacquered wood

Doing your bulk of toy shopping from emporiums in the township works better than at individual factories. You get them at a 25% cheaper rate and have a choice of the best wares sourced from over 400 factories that skirt the area.

Looking for a family of toymakers
Looking for anyone in particular is hardly a problem. One warmu00a0 smile, and the locals will lead you to the family-run operations.

Off the BM highway lies TP Arts & Crafts, a center that stocks wooden handicrafts for children, adults and corporate enterprises. Workshop Manager Zeheed Pasha says, "We've been at this for over 15 years. The toys enjoy a huge fan following in the United Kingdom." Like most factories in the area, they too have a large range of equipment including bandsaws, chain grinders and buffers that help give the toys a neat, professional edge.
u00a0
Dipping profits
But it's hardly all smiles at factory owner Illayas Pasha's centre off Masjid Road. The competitive nature of the local market has dented profits, he rues.

"Customers appreciate the toys but we don't get the money we deserve for the long hours of labour we put in. When my father ran the business years ago, middleman helped drive up the price and increase profits. The sudden mushrooming of factories has driven down prices."

And yet, most factory owners remain positive about the future. The craft is protected under the World Trade Organisation, and administered by the Karnataka Government to promote the handicraft nationally and globally in an efffort to ensure it remains as a traditional heritage service over generations.

More than just toys
A stopover at the town means more than just toy shopping. The Kengal Aanjaneya Swamy Temple (located 5 kms before Channapatna on the BM Highway) and roadside dhabas that offer a tasty if simple selection of South Indian food for the hungry traveller, are more than good reasons to make a trip.

Getting there

By road: From Bengaluru allow at least 1.5 hours driving time.
Take the Bengaluru Mysore Highway, cross Bengaluru rural and head straight down tou00a0 toy town.
Distance from bengaluru by road: 60 kms.

Vegetable dyes used in manufacturingu00a0
Crafting these unique toys include procuring the wood, seasoning it, cutting it into desired shapes, pruning and carving the toys, lathering them with vibrant colours before putting on a final coat of polish. Vegetable dyes are used in the colouring process to ensure the toys and dolls are safe for children.

History
The origin of these toys can be traced back to the reign of Tipu Sultan, who invited artisans from Iran to train local artisans in the art of crafting wooden toys. For nearly two centuries, ivory-wood was the main wood used to manufacture these toys, with rosewood and sandalwood used occasionally. Now, rubber, sycamore, cedar, pine and teak are also used.

The numbers
According to Wiki, as of October 2006, more than 6,000 people in Channapatna, working in 254 home manufacturing units and 50 small factories, were engaged in the making of these toys. The Karnataka Handicrafts Development Corporation (KHDC) provides assistance through marketing efforts.

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