Shilpgram

Shilpgram is a 70-acre rural arts and crafts complex located 3 km west of Udaipur in Rajasthan. Inaugurated in 1989 by Rajiv Gandhi, it serves as a living ethnographic museum depicting the lifestyles, architecture, and crafts of folk and tribal communities from the West Zone of India. The complex features 31 traditional huts representing different states and showcases authentic handicrafts, cultural performances, and workshops.

Visitors can explore 31 traditional huts representing the architectural styles and lifestyles of folk and tribal communities from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa. The complex includes craft demonstration areas, an open-air amphitheatre with seating for approximately 8000 people, museums displaying everyday rural objects, and a traditional haat bazaar where artisans sell their crafts. Visitors can observe live craft demonstrations, purchase handmade items, watch folk dance and music performances, and experience the undulating terrain surrounded by the Aravalli hills.

Shilpgram was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1989. It was established by the West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC) as the first craft village in India, with plans to replicate the model across all federal states.

Shilpgram serves as a living ethnographic museum preserving and promoting the diverse cultural heritage, traditional crafts, and lifestyles of folk and tribal communities from the West Zone of India. It provides a platform for rural artisans to showcase their skills and interact with urban artists through workshops and camps, fostering cultural exchange and preservation of traditional art forms.