The Art and Craft of Andaman: A Souvenir Shopper’s Honest Guide
The art and craft of Andaman runs on four materials: seashell, Padauk wood, cane and bamboo, and coconut shell. You will find most of it in Port Blair, especially at the Sagarika Government Emporium. Some shell items are protected by law, so a little care keeps your souvenir legal.
What is the art and craft of Andaman known for?
Most craft you see in the shops is made by settler families who came from Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra over the last hundred years. The indigenous Nicobarese tradition sits apart from all of it, and we will come to that. Day to day, four everyday materials do the heavy lifting.
| Craft | Main material | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Shell craft | Sea shells | Lamps, jewellery, mirror frames. Check the species is legal |
| Padauk woodwork | Padauk, the state tree | Bowls, carved figures, tabletops with deep red grain |
| Cane and bamboo | Cane, bamboo | Baskets, floor mats, light furniture |
| Coconut shell craft | Coconut shell and fibre | Cups, spoons, lamps, small figures |
| Screwpine mats | Pandanus leaves | Sleeping mats and table mats, woven by hand |
Padauk (Pterocarpus dalbergioides) is the standout. Its wood starts orange-red and deepens to maroon with age, and a well-made bowl or figure carries real weight in the hand. The tree is rated Vulnerable by the IUCN and is no longer logged commercially, so what you buy today comes from old or salvaged stock.
Major arts and crafts of Andaman
Six kinds of craft make up most of what you will actually find for sale across the islands.
Palm mat weaving
Women weave screwpine (pandanus) leaves into sleeping mats, table mats, coasters, hats and small pouches. The work is light, cheap and easy to pack, which makes it one of the better everyday buys.
Coconut shell and husk items
Polished coconut shell is turned into cups, spoons, ladles, bowls, lamps and small figures, while the husk fibre (coir) becomes ropes, doormats and coasters. These are legal, sustainable and among the safest souvenirs to carry home.
Cane and bamboo work
Split cane and bamboo are woven into baskets, trays, laundry bins, lampshades and light furniture. Look for tight, even weaving and a smooth finish, which is what separates a piece that lasts from a quick tourist-market one.
Wood carving
Padauk, marble wood and other ornamental timbers are turned and carved into bowls, animal figures, dolls, miniature boats and tabletops, including the prized Padauk burr tops. A genuine piece is heavy and finely grained.
Shell craft
Shells are worked into jewellery, curtains, mirror frames, lamps and decorative boxes. Buy only items made from unprotected species, since several popular shells are illegal to own or carry, as the next section explains.
Unique artifacts
This is where the islands feel distinctive: carved decorative masks, tribal-motif replica figures, and miniature canoe and dungi boats modelled on local craft. Treat these as decor inspired by island culture, not as genuine sacred objects, which are never sold.
What can you take back home?
Packable souvenirs that stay legal and travel well include:
- Miniature canoe and dungi boats carved from wood
- Decorative carved masks with island and tribal motifs
- Coconut shell lamps, bowls and spoons
- Padauk bowls, keychains and small animal figures
- Cane and bamboo baskets and trays
- Screwpine mats, coasters and sun hats
- Shell jewellery made only from unprotected species
Which Andaman shells are illegal to buy or take home?
A lot of the prettiest shell work uses species that India protects, and buying, holding or carrying them is an offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The Act lists several marine shells across its schedules. As of September 2026, protected species include:
- Chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius)
- Giant clams (Tridacna squamosa, Tridacna maxima)
- Turban shell or green snail (Turbo marmoratus)
- Triton’s trumpet (Charonia tritonis)
- Sacred chank (Turbinella pyrum)
- All species of cowries
- Certain conch shells (Lambis species)
Possession or sale of these can lead to fines and even a jail term, and airport baggage checks do happen. The safe move is simple. Skip whole polished shells, giant clam shells and anything you cannot identify, and choose coconut shell, wood, cane or bamboo instead. If a stall on the beach is selling loose shells, walk on.
Where can you buy authentic Andaman handicrafts?
The most reliable place is the Sagarika Government Emporium in Port Blair, run by the island administration to support local artisans. It sells wood, coconut shell, bamboo, jute and legal shell items under a fixed-price policy, so bargaining does not work but you also do not get overcharged. It sits on M.G. Road and is generally open through the day, roughly 9 am to 7 pm.
For a wider look, the shops around Aberdeen Bazaar carry similar goods at negotiable prices, though quality varies and you should check every piece yourself. One quick test for Padauk: the real thing is dense, cool to the touch and shows a deep, uneven grain, while a resin cast feels light and looks too uniform.
What about tribal and indigenous art?
The Nicobarese carve wooden guardian figures called Hentakoi, or kareau, meant to keep illness and bad spirits away from a home. A community healer, the menluana, makes them, and a figure is replaced once it is thought to have lost its power. These are living spiritual objects, not shop souvenirs, and genuine pieces are not for sale. Anything hawked as a “real tribal artefact” is best treated as dubious and quite possibly illegal.
To actually see this heritage, spend an hour at the Anthropological Museum and the Samudrika Marine Museum in Port Blair, where island material culture is displayed properly rather than sold.
When should you go shopping, and what should you skip?
Craft shopping works all year, since the emporium and bazaars stay open through the monsoon. Fit it into a Port Blair day around the Cellular Jail and the museums, when you are in town anyway rather than burning a Havelock beach morning on it. If you are folding the islands into a couples trip, it helps to line up your Port Blair nights first with one of the Andaman honeymoon packages, so the shopping day slots in without a rush. Skip the beach hawkers selling loose shells, skip anything sold as tribal artefact, and be wary of very cheap “Padauk” that weighs nothing.
FAQ
What is the most famous handicraft of Andaman?
Shell craft is the best known, covering lamps, jewellery and decorative frames. Padauk woodwork runs a close second and is often the smarter buy, since it does not carry the legal risk that some shell items do.
Where is Sagarika Emporium?
It is on M.G. Road in Port Blair, run by the island administration. Prices are fixed, so there is no bargaining, and it stocks wood, coconut shell, bamboo, jute and legal shell craft under one roof.
Can I take shells home from Andaman?
Only unprotected species. Many popular shells, including the nautilus, giant clams and cowries, are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and carrying them is an offence. When in doubt, do not buy loose whole shells.
Is Padauk wood legal to buy?
Yes. Worked Padauk sold through the government emporium and licensed shops is legal to buy and carry. The tree is no longer logged commercially, so genuine pieces come from older or salvaged stock and cost a little more.
What is a Nicobarese scare-devil?
It is a carved wooden figure, called Hentakoi or kareau, placed to protect a home from illness and evil spirits. Made by a community healer, these are spiritual objects tied to Nicobarese belief and are not sold as tourist souvenirs.
What souvenirs are safe to buy in Andaman?
Coconut shell items, Padauk and other wood pieces, cane and bamboo baskets, and handwoven screwpine mats are all legal and locally made. Buy them from the government emporium or a reputable shop rather than from beach stalls.
