The wooden toys of Sawantwadi are a legacy that the previous rulers nurtured, and they reflect the spirit of the area. Generations of children in Maharashtra and Goa have grown up playing with the life-like depictions of fruits, people, and the pull-along toys that were a necessary part of growing up. But today, these painstakingly carved, hand-made toys made of Pongamia and mango wood are struggling for survival. The once-bustling hilltop market in downtown Sawantwadi, known as Ubha Bazaar (Hanging Market), is now a ghost of what it once was. The artisan families who manufactured and sold these toys from their workshops-cum-homes are now reduced to a handful. Wooden Toys of Sawantwadi in Ratnagiri is famous and has followed traditional craft of Wooden toy making from centuries. § Sawantwadi is popularly known for Ganjifa playing cards and wooden toys made from mango tree traditionally done by the Chitari or Chitrakar community. § Bahatuktli is the miniature version of all household items put together ✅ Basic Info Name: Sawantwadi Wooden Craft / Toys State: Maharashtra (Sindhudurg district) GI Status: ✔️ GI tag granted (recent, around 2018) Category: Handicraft 🎨 Key Features Made from mango wood / Indian coral tree (Pangara) Bright lacquer finish + hand painting Includes: Fruits & vegetable models Dolls, animals, toy sets (Bhatukli) Traditional games (like Ganjifa-related items) 🏺 Craft Process (very short) Wood cutting & seasoning Hand carving (chisels, tools) Painting with natural / oil colors Polishing (smooth lacquer finish) 👥 Community Traditionally made by Chittari / Chitrakar artisans Royal patronage in past (Sawantwadi rulers)