Stone carving is a very major handicraft of Orissa. As is evident from the innumerable
archaeological monuments, rock-cut sculptures, caves and temples built for centuries
and embellished with most beautiful and intricately carved statue and other
adornments, the art of carving in stone had reached in Orissa dizzy heights
of excellence perfected through centuries of disciplined efforts of generations
of artisans.
The progeny of these artisans who built the magnificent temples of Parsurameswar,
Mukteswar, Lingaraj, Puri and that wonder in stone, the temple chariot of the
Sun God at Konark, besides the beautiful Stupas and monasteries of Lalitgiri
Ratnagiri and Udayagiri have kept alive the sculptural traditions of their forefathers
and their deft hands can and do chisel and carve exact replicas of the original
temple sculptures besides producing a variety of other items.
These stone images give a touch of distinction to modern décor that
little present embellishment can hope to surpass. They are timeless reflection
of glorious tradition, an unfinished story in stone.