Mathura, Vrindavan, Agra, Varanasi and Hamirpur are the main centres of stone carving in the state of Uttar Pradesh where craftsmen carve idols, statuettes and jaalis from various types of soft stones. Craftsmen of Mathura are experts in carving nesting animals like elephants, tortoises, owls etc, with the forms carved in floral jaali. A power drill is used to make holes and the insides are taken out by chiseling. The smaller animal nested inside is carved through the jaali, this way the form has no joints. The piece is them buffed to a finish.

Production Clusters: Agra, Mathura, Varanasi, Hamirpur

Products: Nesting animals

Tools:  Electric lathes, Drills & pen drills, Zameen Safni, Bahali, files