Myladi Stone Carvings

Myladi stone carvings are ornamental sculptures and idols made in Myladi, a village near Nagercoil in Kanniyakumari district, from a locally quarried soft stone that is easy to carve when fresh and hardens over time. Craftsmen shape deities, decorative figures, lamps, pillars and architectural elements, exploiting the stone's workability to achieve fine, flowing detail. The craft grew from the abundant stone of the region and the long temple-building tradition of the far south, and Myladi artisans have supplied idols and carved pieces for temples and homes across the area. Many of the region's noted large sculptures are associated with the skill of these carvers. The craft provides livelihood to a community of stone artisans in and around Myladi and forms a distinctive part of Kanniyakumari's sculptural heritage.