- Classical dance
- Kuchipudi (Krishna district)
- Signature craft
- Kalamkari
- Kalamkari styles
- Srikalahasti, Machilipatnam
Kuchipudi and Bhamakalpam
Kuchipudi takes its name from a village in Krishna district, where it grew as a dance-drama tradition. Performers combine quick, precise footwork and expressive acting (abhinaya) with Carnatic music, and the stories usually come from the Bhagavata Purana, Ramayana and Mahabharata. It was once danced only by troupes of Brahmin men; today women and men perform it on stages across India and abroad.
One well-known item is Tarangam, in which the dancer keeps rhythm while standing on the edge of a brass plate. Bhamakalpam, a dance-drama attributed to Siddhendra Yogi, tells the story of Satyabhama, Krishna's consort, and her swings between love, pride and devotion. Unlike Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi often uses spoken dialogue, which gives it a more theatrical feel.
Kalamkari painting
The word Kalamkari comes from Persian: kalam means pen and kari means craftwork. Artists draw on cotton with bamboo pens and colour the cloth with dyes made from plants and minerals. The Srikalahasti style is freehand and tells stories from the epics panel by panel, while the Machilipatnam style relies on carved wooden blocks for repeating patterns. You will find Kalamkari today on sarees, dupattas, bedspreads and wall hangings; ask sellers whether a piece uses natural dyes, as some modern work uses synthetic colour.
Folk and ritual performances
Village and temple traditions are just as lively as the classical ones.
- Kolattam: dancers in circles or rows tap pairs of wooden sticks in rhythm, commonly at festivals and weddings.
- Lambadi (Banjara) dance: performed by the Banjara community in mirror-worked, embroidered costumes, with themes of harvest and nature.
- Butta Bommalu: performers wear large painted masks and costumes to play gods and folk characters at village fairs.
- Veeranatyam: a vigorous temple dance inspired by Shiva's cosmic dance, performed as an act of devotion.
How to experience them
Temple festivals, cultural festivals and heritage centres in the state regularly stage these arts, so check local event calendars before you travel. Srikalahasti, close to Tirupati, is a natural stop for anyone interested in Kalamkari. If you tell us your dates, we can try to fit a performance or a craft visit into your Andhra Pradesh itinerary.
Also nearby
Plan it with us
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