TL Finds: Prithvi Raj Kumawat's Gemstone Carving Workshop In Jaipur, Rajasthan

Travel + Leisure India introduces #TLFinds—either new or uniquely interesting places and experiences across India and abroad—for travellers to discover every week. The next in the series is a gemstone carving workshop experience amid the bylanes of Jaipur. Text and photographs by Bayar Jain

What is it?

A guided, hands-on gemstone carving workshop by Prithvi Raj Kumawat, a national award-winning craftsperson, at his humble home-cum-workshop in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Ideal for:

Art and gemstone enthusiasts.

Review:

They say art is therapeutic. After a tiresome work trip in Jaipur, a creative release is just the pick-me-up I need. Luckily, Rajasthan Studio‘s experiential workshops are at my disposal.

After passing through quaint bylanes of the Pink City, I meet Badri Narayan, a travel consultant and my guide for the day. A quick hello later, he takes me to Prithvi Raj Kumawat’s house. On the way, Narayan shares, “The artist has won many accolades for his work. He’s been carving for over four decades!” I also learn that Kumawat first started out with sandalwood carving and later, eggshells.

I walk into Kumawat’s home and at-once find myself awestruck by the twinkling gems and souvenirs lining his glass cabinet. The walls are graced by at least a dozen certifications and awards, each credited to the national-award-winning artisan himself. In the centre is a table with three wooden elephants supporting the the glass tabletop. Kumawat walks in with a smile and notices my gaze. “I carved those elephants,” he says with evident pride.

Kumawat takes a seat across me and begins to explain his journey towards becoming a gemstone carver—a journey that started over forty years ago. His inclination towards gems was not all sparkly. Economic hardships forced him to make the switch from sandalwood to glittering jewels. His passion kept him going. Today, Kumawat has many showpieces to his name. Think an ornate ostrich eggshell lamp, sapphire bracelets, Ganpati idols, and a lot more. His favourite work? A multicoloured angel he created by fusing together several gems.

Inspired, I’m all ready to dive into the experiential half of the day. My sensei for the day takes me up the stairs of his home and straight to his workshop. In a corner, a lamp lights a marble table. “Our work is rather dirty,” apologises Kumawat, explaining the white powder and dust covering the entire space. The unpolished yet intricately carved gemstones dotted all over the workshop quash his claims. Nonetheless, I don an apron and prepare to immerse in the art!

Kumawat takes me through the various tools required to carve gemstones. An onslaught of instructions follow. “This chisel helps shape stones…the dripping water prevents excessive heat…place your foot on this paddle to make the machine work…hold the drill this way.” By now, my mind is confused; my heart is convinced that this workshop is not for me! Kumawat, however, is nothing but confident. “You’ll do this, don’t worry!” he reassures. Narayan agrees silently.

We pick a blue stone for me to experiment with—a colour that inspires me to carve a peacock. To begin, Kumawat sketches the shape onto the stone using a black marker. Next, he hands me a chisel explaining how I need to follow the black line to create a dent. “Try to make it a continuous motion,” he explains. Easy—or so I think! Holding the pen-like machine in my mind and peddling away, I feel the chisel trotting along a path of its own. “Tilt the chisel,” Kumawat guides. Instantly, I feel a difference and watch as the machine creates small grooves onto the stone.

Once the basic outline is done, it’s time to move onto making the feathers of the peacock. He switches the pointed edge of the chisel and replaces it with a smaller one. “This is better for details,” Kumawat explains. Equipped with confidence this time, I’m more aware of how to handle the machine. I chisel away, creating small dents onto the stone. Alongside, Kumawat shows me works of his student who has been learning the craft for a week now. The box of gemstone flowers, to me, ooze with creativity of a seasoned artist, if not a professional! Two hours of conversations and what seemed like a breezy workshop later, I have in my hand a blue peacock gem. Kumawat was right all along—I’ve got this after all. And it’s all thanks to the expert guided tutorial.

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Organiser Details

Gemstone carving workshops, and many other art experiences, are organised by Rajasthan Studio. Currently, these workshops and experiences are organised in Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur, and inlcude crafts like blue pottery, wooden block making, jutti making, Meenakari jewellery, Tarakashi wood inlaying, Fresco art, and more.

Price

INR 7,080 per person, for a duration of four hours.

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