India GO
Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium, Mysore: the state crafts shop
The Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium on Sayyaji Rao Road in central Mysore is the retail shop of the Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation (KSHDCL), set up by the Government of Karnataka in 1964. It is the safe address for Mysore's signature crafts, sandalwood and rosewood inlay above all: prices are fixed and the origin is guaranteed. KSHDCL also sells online.
Mysore's crafts are easy to fake and hard to judge on the street, which is what makes the state corporation's flagship shop useful. Everything here is what the label says: sandalwood carvings and the oil pressed from the same fragrant wood, inlay work in rosewood, where pale motifs are set into the dark grain and which carries a geographical indication as a Mysore speciality, Mysore paintings finished in gold leaf, bronzes, lacquered Channapatna toys, incense and silk. Prices are fixed and the artisans are paid properly, so it costs a little more than the bazaar and you know what you are carrying home.
Fixed prices and guaranteed origin: the safe address for sandalwood and rosewood inlay
Government or private?
Government. The Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation was founded by the state in 1964 to keep Karnataka's craft traditions alive, and Cauvery is its retail brand, with outlets beyond Mysore too. The corporation runs wood-seasoning plants for its craftsmen at the Multi Craft Complex in Mysore and at the lacquerware complex in Channapatna.
That is the practical point of the shop. Sandalwood is easy to fake and hard to judge on the street; here the label is what you get, and you pay a little more than in the bazaar for that certainty.
What to buy
Sandalwood
Carvings, and the oil, perfumes and agarbathi (incense sticks) made from the same fragrant wood. This is what the shop is best known for.
Rosewood inlay
Pale motifs set into dark rosewood. Mysore inlay carries a geographical indication as a regional speciality.
Bronze, bidriware and metal
Cast bronzes and bidriware, the blackened alloy inlaid with silver.
Lacquerware and Channapatna toys
Lacquered wooden toys from Channapatna.
Paintings and textiles
Mysore paintings finished in gold leaf, and silk.
Timings and how to get there
The shop is on Sayyaji Rao Road, the main street of central Mysore. KSHDCL does not publish opening hours for the Mysore showroom on its website, and India GO has no confirmed hours, so the card above has none. The phone lines on the website (Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm) are for online sales and general enquiries; the contact page lists showrooms in Bengaluru, not Mysore.
Buying online
Yes, you can shop online. KSHDCL runs an online store at cauveryhandicrafts.net with free delivery to more than 100 locations in India and a 30-day return or exchange. Useful if you see something in Mysore and do not want to carry it.
❓ FAQ
Is Cauvery Emporium government or private?
Government. It is the retail brand of the Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation, set up by the state in 1964.
What is Cauvery Emporium known for?
Sandalwood carvings, oil and incense, and Mysore rosewood inlay, sold at fixed prices with guaranteed origin.
Can I shop online at Cauvery Emporium?
Yes, at cauveryhandicrafts.net, with delivery within India and a 30-day return or exchange.
Where are Cauvery handicrafts made?
By Karnataka craftsmen, many working in the corporation's craft complexes; it runs wood-seasoning plants in Mysore and Channapatna.
What are the Cauvery Emporium Mysore timings?
KSHDCL does not publish hours for the Mysore showroom; check locally before a special trip.