Puducherry’s Art and Craft Village emerges as major tourist destination, supports over 20 artisans

Art & Craft Village in Puducherry offers unique craft items made by local artisans, gaining traction outside UT. Padma awardee V.K. Munusamy, 500 daily visitors, 2K on weekends, govt. agencies from various States placing bulk orders. President Droupadi Murmu visited. Artisans making good money, getting exposure within & outside country. Boat ride to Thengaithittu mangroves temporarily suspended. Govt. has clear roadmap to make it prime tourist destination.

While the government run-Art and Craft Village at Murungapakkam has found a place in the tourist itinerary in Puducherry and sustains the livelihood of local artisans, the demand for products at the village is gradually gaining more traction outside the Union Territory as well, with government agencies from various States placing bulk orders for thematic art work to beautify public places.

Established in a serene environment on the outskirts of the town, off the Cuddalore Road, the Village houses, under one roof, a range of unique craft items produced by local artisans and affords an opportunity for visitors to get hands-on experience into the intricacies of craft making.

More than 20 local artisans, including noted terracotta artisan and Padma awardee V. K Munusamy, operate out of the Village, offering an array of items such as paper lamp shades, coconut crafts, leather crafts, designed mats and jute bags, scented candles, Tanjore painting, seashell craft, stone work crafts, hammocks as well as palm leaf and terracotta items.

Another attraction, particularly for children, is the Wildlife Art Gallery displaying statues of animals carved out of single stones, and paintings on plywood. One of the prominent visitors to the Village was President Droupadi Murmu.

“The Village is slowly emerging as a prime tourist destination in Puducherry. Around 500 tourists visit the place daily, and on holidays and weekends the footfall goes up to around 2,000. Also, there is the large number of students and interns who visit for educational purpose. The artisans are also doing well in earnings,” said S. Bhaskar, Tourism Manager, Puducherry Department of Tourism.

It is not just the on-the-spot sales that are making the artisans happy, but the exposure they get within and outside the country which is also valuable, they say.

P. Mary Theresa, a resident of Nellithope, had undergone training in palm leaf craft, offered by the District Industries Centre. “When I was looking for a place to make and sell the products, the stall at the Craft Village was handy. Now, I make a minimum of ₹15,000 per month from the sale of eco-friendly items. People who visit the stall also place orders with me,’‘ she said.