Whether it is accessorising your home with pieces of ethnic exotica, or gifting a dear one – Lepakshi at Musheerabad has what you’re looking for! The Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation and the Govt. of India initiated “Lepakshi” which promotes indigenous handicrafts, training artisans, providing infrastructural facilities and the like since 1982.

Walk into Lepakshi, and be transported to the handicrafts section, with a modernistic coiffure and light music to suit the mood. Their framed folk paintings such as the epics-themed Cherial scroll paintings; the Kalamkari hand paintings from Kalahasti and Machilipatnam; the Anjanta, Kangra and Mughal miniatures inspired Nirmal portraits, stand ready to ornament your walls.

Their brass (from Warrangal), Bidri (from Bidar), silver filigree vases, figurines and myriad utility items augment the look and feel of your interiors, as does their rose-wood furniture with intricate carvings, the Nirmal furniture in bright contours and the leather lampshades depicting epic themes. Musical instruments like veenas and tamburas from Bobbili and Gollapalli carved from a single piece of jack wood are typically connoisseur picks. But do be forewarned, as they leave a substantial dent in your wallet.

However, for those looking for something inexpensive, yet brag-worthy items, can check out the Kondapalli toys or brightly coloured Nirmal toys. Key-rings or small utilities made of brass or wood-carved can make for fine gift items, as do the Kalamkari printed, and tie and dye cotton and jute durries which can be used as floor spreads or even wall hangings. Lepakshi’s Banjara embroidered with mirror, beads and shells, or the cotton Kalamkari block-printed range of handbags, kurtis, skirts, cushion covers, bed spreads are perfect gifts for ladies.

Apart from this, Lepakshi also houses ethnic products from Mysore, Muradabad, West Bengal, Gujarat and Kashmir. And that’s not all, Lepakshi offers worldwide shipping of their products, and one can even shop online!

Retro is in, where are you?