Etikoppaka toys, also known as etikoppaka bommalu, are wooden artefacts and toys. They are dyed using natural dyes and finished with a glossy lacquer coating. They are handcrafted in a cluster of villages surrounding Visakhapatnam, with the main hub in Etikoppaka, on the banks of River Varaha.

This craft originated nearly two centuries ago in Nakkapalli, where a skilled artisan named Dimili Bangaram founded it. Today, his legacy is carried forward by fifth-generation family members.

Etikoppaka toys flourished under the patronage of the Vijayanagara kings. Making these toys involves using hand tools to shape soft wood into circular forms using a lathe. Then, a mixture of natural colours and lac is applied to decorate the artefacts. Besides toys, jewellery boxes, cutlery, trousseau boxes, and other items are created using this technique.

Etikoppaka toy tradition was certified with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2017.

Early in 2023, CV Raju from Etikoppaka village was awarded the Padma Shri. The man behind the revival of these wood-lacquered toys, Raju began working with eco-friendly materials. He replaced synthetic dyes with plant-based dyes derived from roots, barks, stems, leaves, fruits and seeds. He also launched Padmavati Associates, a cooperative association of artisans, so natural materials could be found in the right markets.

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