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Channapatna toys are a particular form of wooden toys (and dolls) that are manufactured in the town of Channapatna in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka.
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This traditional craft is protected as a geographical indication (GI) under the World Trade Organization, administered by the state govt.
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As a result of the popularity of these toys, Channapatna is known as Gombegala Ooru (toy-town) of Karnataka.
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Traditionally, the work involved lacquering the wood of the Wrightia tinctoria tree, colloquially called Aale mara (ivory-wood)
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Their manufacture goes back at least 200 years according to most accounts and it has been traced to the era of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in the 18th century.
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The toys are laced with vegetable dyes and colours devoid of chemicals and hence they are safe for children.
