Wood carving is an ancient art form of India, dating back to Emperor Ashoka's time. Ancient Indian woodworkers were master artisans who crafted war chariots, furniture, and artefacts. They used blackwood, East Indian walnut, rosewood, sandalwood, mahogany, ebony, mango, and neem. Ancient Indian woodworkers also used a variety of decorative elements. These include floral patterns, inlay work, lacquered wood, latticework, and plaques with animal and bird figures. These can be commonly noticed in doors, doorways, panels, screens, and furniture.

Different regions in India have their unique wood-carving traditions. Rajasthan is known for its woodwork in temples and palaces. There, Chittorgarh and the Pali district are the notable centers for this craft. Artisans in Bengal use bel and neem wood for their woodcraft. In Bahadurgarh, Haryana, there is a community of ivory carvers who have adapted their craft to woodwork. Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, known as the "sheesham wood village", is believed to be the home of some of India's finest wood carvers.

Ashoka's palace at Pataliputra, the grand temple at Bodh Gaya, and the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad showcase wood carving with a wide array of wooden artefacts. They include sandalwood figures, as well as representation of Hindu deities in different finishes, mythological figures, and furniture.

Any information on this page is anecdotal and based on publicly available details. If you're interested in learning more, click here.