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CRAFT · WOODEN TOYS · IDARIdar Toys
The old town of Idar in Sabarkantha is famous for its brightly lacquered wooden toys — a generations-old craft — and for its dramatic hill fort perched among giant granite boulders.
The toy town among the boulders
Idar, a historic town in Sabarkantha, has long been known across Gujarat for its handmade wooden toys — bright, lacquered figures, animals, cradles and household miniatures turned on the lathe and painted in glowing colours. The craft has passed down through generations of local families. The town itself is unforgettable too, sprawled beneath a dramatic hill fort that rises among enormous rounded granite boulders, the Idar rockscape.
A craft passed down the generations
Idar was the seat of a princely state, and the town's craft trades grew up under that patronage in the shadow of its hill fort.
The toys are turned on a lathe from local wood, then lacquered — colour applied as a stick of hard lac held against the spinning piece, melting on by friction.
The trade has passed down through particular families, and the forms — figures, animals, cradles, kitchen miniatures — have changed little.
It is still a working craft rather than a heritage revival, sold in the town's bazaars and across Gujarat.
Why come
Wooden toys
Bright lacquered figures, animals, cradles and household miniatures, turned and finished by hand.
Vivid colour
Lac gives the colour its depth and gloss — applied hot on the lathe rather than painted on afterwards.
Craft families
The skill sits with specific families, handed down rather than taught formally.
Hill fort
Idar's hill fort rises directly above the town and dominates every view of it.
Rockscape
The hill is a mass of enormous rounded granite boulders, a landscape unlike anything else in Gujarat.
Old temples
The climb up through the boulders to the fort is the town's other reason to visit, and the view from the top is long.
What to see
THE CRAFTToys
Wooden toys turned on the lathe and finished in hot lac.
THE TOWNIdar
Idar town beneath its boulder-strewn hill fort.
How to experience it
Reach Idar
Come to Idar for the craft as much as the fort — the two are what make the town worth the detour.
Browse the toys
Look for the toys in the town bazaars, where they are sold by the makers and their families.
Watch the craft
Watch the lathe and lacquer work if a workshop will let you — the colour going on hot is the interesting part.
Take some home
Buy a piece. They are cheap, they travel well, and buying direct keeps the trade alive.
Climb the fort
Climb the hill through the granite boulders to the fort, allowing an hour or so each way.
See the views
Take in the view from the top, which runs out over the plains towards the Aravallis.
Craft and stone together
Idar’s wooden toys belong to Gujarat’s wider tradition of lacquered woodwork, but the town has kept its own bright, distinctive style alive as a household craft. A visit pairs the workshops and bazaars below with the climb up the boulder-strewn Idariyo Gadh hill, past shrines and old fortifications, to sweeping views — a rare mix of living craft and dramatic landscape in one small Sabarkantha town.
This is one of many places worth seeing here — the full guide to Sabarkantha has the rest.
Timing
November to February is the season for the climb — the rock is exposed and there is no shade on the way up.
After the monsoon the boulder hills green over and the whole landscape softens.
April to June is severe; the granite holds heat and the ascent is genuinely unpleasant.
⏰ Idar is pleasant to explore in the cooler months; the toy craft and bazaars are a year-round draw.
Getting there
By Air
Ahmedabad (~110 km).
By Rail
Idar / Himatnagar.
By Road
Idar, Sabarkantha.
More in Sabarkantha
What to eat
THALIGujarati Thali
A hearty spread.
FARSANFarsan
Savoury snacks.
SWEETLocal Sweets
Market treats.
CHAASChaas
Spiced buttermilk.
Idar Toys FAQ
What are Idar toys?
Traditional brightly lacquered wooden toys — figures, animals and miniatures — turned and painted by craft families in Idar, Sabarkantha.
Why is Idar known for toys?
The town has a generations-old woodworking and lacquering tradition, making it one of Gujarat's noted centres for wooden toys.
What is the Idar rockscape?
A dramatic landscape of giant rounded granite boulders around the town, crowned by the Idar hill fort.
Can I climb the hill fort?
Yes — a stepped climb up Idariyo Gadh passes temples and old fortifications to sweeping views over the plains.
When should I visit?
The cooler winter months are best for the climb; the toy bazaars are open year-round.
How do I reach Idar?
By road or rail via Himatnagar, about 110 km from Ahmedabad.
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 3 July 2026