Etikoppaka

Just over an hour's drive from Vizag, Etikoppaka is a delightful little village on the banks of river Varaha. The craftsmen of this village have won fame on a national scale with toys made of soft wood called "Ankudu" and which are subsequently coated with lacquer. These toys are colorful and depict the rural life in an endearingly simple manner.

Assisted by the Fine Arts Department of Andhra University, the National Institute of Design and the National Institute of Fashion Technology, new designs and products were developed with their expertise. The lacquer-ware manufactured in Etikoppaka find good markets not only in India, but also in many overseas countries like France, Italy, Germany and the United States of America.

The Famous Wood toys made at Kondapalli, Eti Koppaka mostly include vermilion boxes and bangles. Toys for marriage ceremonies and rituals, toys meant for children, play bowls (lakkapidatalu) & an entire set of cooking vessels in miniature form are also made with locally available light ankudu wood. Another unique feature of these toys is that they are without colors. Some of the toys are doll tops, milkman, bangles, tanker, hairpins and candle stands. Among utilitarian objects, salt boxes, spice jars, bowls are also prominent items.