Welcome to Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium
India is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, and its vast cultural and ethnic diversity is vividly reflected in its rich tradition of handicrafts. Each region contributes uniquely to this heritage, offering a wide array of artistic expressions shaped by history, geography, and local traditions.
The southern state of Karnataka is particularly renowned for its handicraft industry, celebrated for its distinctive and traditional masterpieces. Craftsmen in the region skillfully work with a variety of materials, employing intricate motifs and a blend of time-honored and contemporary techniques. The state’s dense forests, abundant in flora and fauna, have long inspired its craft traditions. Karnataka’s plentiful sandalwood and rosewood resources have given rise to exceptional sandalwood carvings and intricate rosewood inlay work, both of which are highly regarded for their precision and aesthetic appeal.
These crafts have been preserved over generations through closely guarded techniques passed down within artisan communities. However, rapid modernization and limited exposure to global markets have posed significant challenges, often sidelining traditional craftsmen.
Despite these challenges, Indian arts and crafts continue to enjoy strong demand worldwide for their elegance, intricacy, and artistic value. The Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (KSHDCL) plays a crucial role in promoting these crafts under the brand name “Cauvery.” Through its outlets across the country, KSHDCL ensures that the rich heritage of Karnataka reaches a wider audience. The consistent quality maintained by the corporation has made the Cauvery brand synonymous with excellence in handicrafts. Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium is the official online marketplace of Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (KSHDCL), a Government of Karnataka undertaking dedicated to preserving, developing, and promoting the rich handicraft traditions of the state since 1964. Through this portal, we bring Karnataka’s finest handcrafted products from our artisan communities directly to your doorstep, anywhere in India and across the world.
KSHDCL was established under the Companies Act, 1956 with a clear mandate to support artisans and safeguard traditional craft skills. Both the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka are shareholders in the corporation, ensuring that every purchase you make contributes to a public sector initiative focused on cultural heritage and artisan welfare.
Karnataka is home to a wide variety of acclaimed crafts that have evolved over centuries and are still practiced today. Through Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium, you can discover and shop authentic pieces across traditions such as:
1. Sandalwood carvings
2. Mysore rosewood inlay work
3. Channapatna lacquerware and toys
4. Mysore traditional paintings
5. Bidriware metal inlay
6. Kinhal toys and other wood carvings
7. Navalgund durries
8. Traditional jewellery, mirror work, embroidery
9. Banana fibre, terracotta, bronze icons, pile carpets and many more craft forms
Each product is handcrafted by empanelled artisans who are carefully selected and supported by KSHDCL.
1. Identify places where craftsmen are concentrated and set up craft complexes with facilities like Common Facility Centre equipped with tools and machinery, living-cum-work sheds for artisans.
2. Provide raw materials like sandalwood, zinc and silver at subsidized rates to the craftsmen.
3. Train craftsmen in creating new designs in mediums like sandalwood, rosewood, lacquer and bronze.
4. Keep craftsmen updated on the changing market trends, by exposing them to the latest technology.
5. Look after requirements of the handicraft industry, for instance, wood-seasoning plants set up at the Multi Craft Complex in Mysore and at the Lacquer ware Craft Complex in Channapatna.
KSHDCL operates Cauvery showrooms across India and craft complexes across Karnataka, backed by a strong network of empanelled artisans producing thousands of different handicrafts. This institutional base allows Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium to guarantee that every product is genuine, fairly sourced, and representative of Karnataka’s craft excellence.
On the Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium e‑commerce platform, you can:
1. Browse a curated range of authentic handicrafts across multiple craft clusters of Karnataka.
2. Discover GI‑registered products and cluster‑specific signatures that reflect the unique identity of each region.
3. Access both classic designs and contemporary interpretations that retain the essence of traditional craftsmanship.
Every item comes from artisans associated with KSHDCL, ensuring quality, authenticity, and fair value to the craftsperson.
By choosing Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium, you are not only purchasing a beautiful handcrafted product, but also supporting the livelihoods of thousands of artisans and helping to preserve Karnataka’s cultural heritage for future generations. We remain committed to transparent practices, responsible sourcing, and a seamless online shopping experience that connects you directly with the legacy of Karnataka’s handicrafts.