Shopping in Kerala

Travellers have exciting prospects when shopping in Kerala. Brass, bronze, copper and bell metal (an alloy of tin and copper) are the metals of choice for idols, lamps, mirror frames and vessels. Wood carving skills honed by centuries of temple building now find expression in Kathakali masks. Mats and baskets are woven out of bamboo, rattan and coconut fibre. You could also pick up traditional jewellery, which varies for different communities. The ivory trade is now illegal. Artisans who earlier specialised in ivory carving now use buffalo horn. Read More…