The craft behind the subcontinent's temple sculpture and architectural detail — from soft soapstone figures to the massive granite carving of South Indian gopurams.
राजस्थान, ओडिशा, दक्षिण भारत · Rajasthan, Odisha, South India
Stone carvers traditionally work in whatever material a region provides: sandstone in Rajasthan, marble around Makrana, the source of the Taj Mahal's stone, soapstone in parts of Karnataka and Odisha, and hard granite across much of the south, each demanding different tools and technique.
The same carving tradition that produced temple sculpture across the sites in this site's Tirtha & Devalaya chapter continues today in workshops near major pilgrimage towns, where artisans still carve deity images, architectural panels, and memorial stones by hand.