Andhra Pradesh is home to two of India's best-loved wooden toy traditions — Kondapalli Bommalu and Etikoppaka toys. They are often mixed up, but they come from different villages, use different woods, and are made in completely different ways. Here is a clear guide to telling them apart.
Kondapalli Bommalu are hand-carved, detailed figures — deities, village scenes, Golu dolls — from Kondapalli near Vijayawada. Etikoppaka toys are smooth, glossy, lathe-turned pieces finished with natural lacquer, from Etikoppaka near Visakhapatnam, and are especially loved as safe toys for children. Both are GI-tagged Andhra crafts, and both are made by the artisan families we buy from.
Kondapalli Bommalu come from the village of Kondapalli, near Vijayawada in the Krishna district. It is a craft over four centuries old, carrying a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Artisans carve each figure from soft, lightweight Tella Poniki wood, cut the parts separately, and join them with tamarind seed paste before hand-painting them in bright colours.
The result is detailed, sculpted figures — mythological characters, Dasavatharam sets, village-life scenes, animals, bullock carts, wedding sets and Golu step dolls. They are prized as decor, festival displays and collectibles, and are a classic choice for Navratri Golu (Bommala Koluvu).
Etikoppaka toys come from the village of Etikoppaka, on the banks of the Varaha river in the Visakhapatnam district. This craft is also GI-tagged. Artisans turn soft Ankudu wood on a lathe and finish it with lac turnery: natural lac colours are applied to the piece while it spins, giving a smooth, rounded, glossy surface.
Because the colours come from natural lac and vegetable dyes, Etikoppaka toys are traditionally considered safe for children — which is why you will see spinning tops, rounded dolls, kitchen sets and stacking toys alongside decorative pieces. They are bright, tactile and child-friendly.
| Kondapalli Bommalu | Etikoppaka Toys | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Kondapalli, near Vijayawada (Krishna district) | Etikoppaka, near Visakhapatnam |
| Wood | Tella Poniki (soft) | Ankudu (soft) |
| Technique | Hand-carved in parts, joined with tamarind paste | Lathe-turned, natural lac (lacquer) finish |
| Look | Detailed, sculpted figures | Smooth, rounded, glossy |
| Typical pieces | Deities, Dasavatharam, village scenes, Golu dolls | Spinning tops, rounded dolls, kitchen sets |
| Best for | Decor, Golu display, collectibles, gifting | Children's toys, colourful gifting |
| GI-tagged | Yes | Yes |
Choose Kondapalli Bommalu if you want detailed figures for home decor, a Navratri Golu display, or a heritage collectible or gift. Choose Etikoppaka toys if you want smooth, glossy, child-safe toys or bright, playful gifts. Many homes keep both — carved Kondapalli figures for display, and rounded Etikoppaka pieces for little hands.
At Hesvika Handi Crafts in Kamala Nagar, ECIL, Hyderabad you will find both, made by traditional artisans, with delivery across India. Browse our Kondapalli Bommalu and Etikoppaka Bommalu collections to see the difference for yourself.