Sheesham Wood Kathputli from Udaipur Workshop

Since 1987, our family workshop in Udaipur creates authentic wooden marionettes using techniques passed down through three generations. Each puppet is carved from local sheesham wood and hand-painted with natural mineral pigments by master craftsman Raghunandan Bhattacharya and his apprentices.

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Hand-carved from sheesham wood

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Natural mineral paint finishes

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Traditional Rajasthani puppet designs

See All 47 Puppets Available

Traditional Rajasthani wooden marionette with hand-painted costume created by WoodenTales artisans in Udaipur workshop using sheesham wood

Master craftsman Raghunandan Bhattacharya carving detailed facial features on wooden marionette head using traditional hand tools at WoodenTales workshop

Collection of traditional wood carving chisels knives and hand painting brushes used in kathputli marionette creation at Udaipur workshop

The Bhattacharya Family Since 1987

Grandfather, Father, and Son Creating Marionettes in Udaipur

The Bhattacharya family began crafting marionettes in 1987 when Raghunandan's grandfather, Devendra Bhattacharya, moved from Jaipur to Udaipur and established a small workshop near Lake Pichola. He learned the traditional kathputli (string puppet) craft from traveling performers who visited Rajasthan's royal courts.

Today, our workshop employs six skilled artisans. We use locally sourced sheesham wood from sustainable forests in Rajasthan. Each puppet takes between 12 to 18 days to complete - from initial carving to final painting and stringing. The detailed facial expressions and costume designs reflect characters from Rajasthani folklore, Mughal history, and traditional Indian epics.

Our marionettes have been featured in theatrical performances across India, including shows at the Jaipur Literature Festival and Delhi's National School of Drama. We also supply puppets to international collectors and theater companies in Europe and North America.

Years of craftsmanship

Master artisans

2400+

Puppets created

Four Types We Make at Our Workshop

Each marionette is a unique piece. We create characters based on traditional Indian stories, historical figures, and custom designs for theater productions. All puppets feature hand-carved wooden heads, fabric costumes sewn in our workshop, and professionally engineered string controls.

Popular

Colorful Rajasthani folk dancer marionette with embroidered vest pleated dhoti pants and traditional turban hand-painted by WoodenTales artisans

Rajasthani Folk Characters

Traditional designs featuring colorful turbans, embroidered vests, and pleated dhoti pants. These puppets represent dancers, musicians, and storytellers from Rajasthani village culture. Each puppet stands 45-50cm tall and includes authentic costume details like miniature jewelry, fabric turbans, and hand-stitched vests.

Materials: Sheesham wood, cotton fabric, natural mineral paints

Height: 45-50 cm

Production Time: 12-14 days

String Controls: 9-string professional control bar

₹8,500 - ₹12,000 Depending on costume complexity

Browse Folk Character Puppets

Premium

Mughal Era Royalty

Detailed marionettes depicting maharajas, queens, and court officials from India's Mughal period. Features silk-style robes with gold leaf accents, jewelry details painted using metallic colors, and elaborate headpieces inspired by 16th-century Mughal court paintings. Each piece includes historically accurate costume elements researched from museum collections.

Materials: Premium sheesham wood, silk fabric, gold leaf accents

Height: 55-60 cm

Production Time: 16-18 days

String Controls: 11-string advanced control bar

₹15,000 - ₹22,000 Premium historical designs

See Premium Mughal Designs

Carved wooden elephant marionette with decorative howdah saddle and movable trunk created from sheesham wood for children's theater performances

Animal Characters

Carved wooden animals including elephants with decorative howdahs, camels with saddle bags, horses with Rajasthani harnesses, and peacocks with articulated tail feathers. Each features ball-and-socket movable joints for realistic movement. Popular choices for children's theater, educational programs, and folk tale performances throughout Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Materials: Sheesham wood, acrylic paints, cotton decorations

Height: 30-40 cm (varies by animal)

Production Time: 10-12 days

String Controls: 6-8 string simplified control bar

₹6,000 - ₹9,500 Great for children's theater

View Animal Marionettes

Custom Order

Custom designed marionette puppet created for theater production with unique costume and character details approved by client through consultation process

Custom Theater Orders

We accept commissions for specific characters needed in theatrical productions. Our custom service includes initial design consultation, character sketches for approval, and multiple revision rounds. Past projects include puppets for adaptations of Ramayana (National School of Drama), Mahabharata (Natya Kala Mandir), and contemporary Indian plays. We work with theater companies, schools, and cultural organizations.

Materials: Custom selection based on character requirements

Height: Customizable (typically 40-70 cm)

Production Time: 6-8 weeks (includes design approval)

Minimum Order: 4 puppets for custom theater projects

₹18,000+ Quote based on design complexity

Get Custom Design Quote

Customer Stories

Theater director holding traditional kathputli marionette purchased from WoodenTales workshop for cultural performance production in Rajasthan India

Theater directors, collectors, and cultural organizations share their experiences working with WoodenTales marionettes.

We commissioned eight character puppets for our production of Panchatantra stories. Raghunandan understood exactly what we needed - the puppets had to be visually striking for our young audience while being durable enough for daily performances. The craftsmanship exceeded our expectations, and the movement control is superb.

Priya Deshmukh

Artistic Director, Natya Kala Mandir Theater Company, Jaipur

★★★★★

Custom Theater Set - 8 Puppets September 2024

I've been collecting traditional Indian puppets for fifteen years. The Mughal-era maharaja puppet I purchased from WoodenTales is the centerpiece of my collection. The attention to historical detail - from the turban style to the jewelry painted with gold leaf - shows deep research and skill. Worth every rupee.

Vikram Malhotra

Art Collector & Cultural Historian, Mumbai

★★★★★

Premium Mughal Maharaja August 2024

Our cultural center purchased twelve animal marionettes for our children's education program. The elephants and peacocks are particularly popular. They're sturdy enough to handle enthusiastic young puppeteers while still maintaining beautiful craftsmanship. Raghunandan also provided a half-day training session on basic puppetry techniques.

Anjali Reddy

Program Coordinator, Shilpa Cultural Center, Udaipur

★★★★★

Educational Set - 12 Animals July 2024

What Our Puppets Cost and Why

All prices include hand-carved sheesham wood body, hand-painted details, costume fabrics, and professional string control system. International shipping available at additional cost.

Puppet Type

Height

Production Time

Price Range

Animal Characters Elephant, camel, horse, peacock

30-40 cm

10-12 days

₹6,000 - ₹9,500

Folk Characters Dancers, musicians, storytellers

45-50 cm

12-14 days

₹8,500 - ₹12,000

Mughal Royalty Maharajas, queens, court officials

55-60 cm

16-18 days

₹15,000 - ₹22,000

Custom Theater Orders Minimum 4 puppets

40-70 cm

6-8 weeks

₹18,000+

What's Included

✓ Hand-carved sheesham wood body
✓ Natural mineral or acrylic paint finish
✓ Custom-sewn fabric costume
✓ Professional string control bar
✓ Certificate of authenticity
✓ Care instructions in English & Hindi

Payment Terms

50% advance payment required to begin work. Balance due upon completion before shipping. We accept bank transfer (NEFT/RTGS), UPI, and international wire transfer.

See Payment and Shipping Info

Questions Customers Ask Raghunandan

How long does it take to make a marionette?

Production time varies by complexity. Animal characters take 10-12 days, folk characters 12-14 days, and premium Mughal designs 16-18 days. Custom theater orders require 6-8 weeks including design approval phases. These timelines begin after we receive your 50% advance payment.

Can you ship internationally?

Yes, we ship worldwide. We use India Post's registered air parcel service or professional courier services like DHL for international orders. Shipping costs depend on destination and package weight. Typical delivery to North America takes 10-15 business days, to Europe 8-12 days. We pack puppets carefully in cushioned boxes with wooden reinforcement.

What wood do you use and why?

We exclusively use sheesham wood (Indian rosewood) sourced from sustainable forestry cooperatives in rural Rajasthan. Sheesham is ideal for puppets because it's lightweight yet durable, carves cleanly for fine details, and holds paint well. It's also naturally resistant to termites and wood rot, ensuring your puppet lasts for decades.

Do you offer bulk discounts for theater companies?

Yes. Theater companies ordering 10 or more puppets receive a 15% discount. Educational institutions and cultural organizations ordering 15+ puppets receive 20% off. We also offer flexible payment plans for large institutional orders. Contact us at contact@woodentales.com with your project details for a custom quote.

How do I control the marionette?

Each puppet includes a professional control bar (also called an airplane control or cross control). We provide detailed instructions with photos showing basic movements. For theater companies, we offer optional one-day puppetry training workshops at our Udaipur workshop for ₹5,000 per participant. Maximum 6 participants per session.

Can I visit your workshop?

Yes! Our workshop at 170, Moti Magri Scheme, Zinc Park, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313004, India is open for visitors Monday-Saturday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Please call ahead at +91 98212 99969 or email us so we can ensure someone is available to show you around. Visits typically last 30-45 minutes and include a demonstration of carving and painting techniques.

What if my puppet gets damaged?

We offer repair services for all our puppets. Send us photos of the damage to assess the repair cost. Minor string replacements and paint touch-ups can be done locally by following our guidance. For major repairs (broken limbs, head damage), shipping the puppet back to our workshop is recommended. Repairs typically take 7-10 days and cost 30-40% of the original puppet price.

Do you make custom character designs?

Absolutely. We welcome custom commissions for specific characters, whether from Indian mythology, historical figures, or original designs. The process starts with a consultation where you describe your vision. We create pencil sketches for your approval before carving begins. Minimum order for custom designs is 4 puppets. Turnaround time is 6-8 weeks.

Puppets We've Made This Year

Hand-carved sheesham wood marionette with natural mineral paint finish traditional Rajasthani costume made at WoodenTales workshop in Udaipur

Handcrafted kathputli string puppet with detailed facial features painted by Suresh Kumar Meena senior painter at Bhattacharya family workshop

Traditional Indian marionette character with hand-sewn fabric costume authentic jewelry details created using three-generation family techniques passed down since 1987

Rajasthani folk dancer puppet with colorful embroidered vest traditional ghagra skirt hand-painted turban created by Lakshmi Verma costume designer

Mughal period emperor marionette with silk robes gold leaf jewelry accents based on museum research of sixteenth century Indian court miniature paintings

Carved wooden animal character marionette with ball-and-socket movable joints created for children's educational theater programs in Rajasthan Gujarat schools

Custom character marionette designed for theatrical production with unique costume and personality approved through client consultation and sketch review process

Traditional kathputli art marionette showcasing centuries-old Rajasthani puppet making techniques preserved by three generations of Bhattacharya family craftsmen in Udaipur

Wooden character marionette with eleven-string professional control bar hand-carved from premium aged sheesham wood sourced from sustainable Rajasthan forestry cooperatives

Indian traditional marionette puppet featuring authentic historical costume details researched from Rajasthan cultural archives and museum textile collections by WoodenTales design team

Handmade marionette puppet with individually carved wooden body parts hand-stitched miniature costume accessories created over twelve to eighteen days by skilled artisans

Folk storyteller character marionette with traditional Rajasthani village costume hand-painted details used in educational cultural performances throughout India and international theaters

Recent Happenings at Our Workshop

Exhibition

Udaipur Craft Fair Participation

Our workshop displayed 23 marionettes at the annual Shilpgram Utsav craft fair near Udaipur. We demonstrated puppet-making techniques to over 500 visitors and sold several pieces to collectors from Mumbai and Bangalore. The event ran from December 21-30 at the Shilpgram complex.

Commission

Theater Company Order Completed

We finished a custom order of 8 character puppets for the Natya Kala Mandir theater group in Jaipur. The puppets will be used in their upcoming production of a modern adaptation of the Panchatantra stories. This was our largest commission of 2024, taking three months to complete.

Workshop

New Apprentice Joins Team

Aditya Sharma, a 22-year-old graduate from Udaipur's Government Arts College, began his apprenticeship with us. He is learning traditional wood carving techniques and will train for approximately 18 months before working independently on puppet designs. This continues our commitment to preserving traditional craftsmanship.

Materials

Sustainable Wood Source Established

We partnered with a certified sustainable forestry cooperative in rural Rajasthan to source our sheesham wood. This ensures our material supply is environmentally responsible. The cooperative plants two trees for every one harvested and employs local farmers during off-season months.

Achievement

Featured in Craft Magazine

Indian Craft Quarterly magazine published a four-page feature about our workshop in their August edition. The article included interviews with Raghunandan Bhattacharya and detailed photographs of the marionette-making process from wood selection to final stringing.

Community

School Workshop Series

We conducted free puppet-making demonstrations at three schools in Udaipur during July. Students learned basic carving safety, paint application techniques, and the history of kathputli in Rajasthan. Over 200 students participated in these educational sessions.