Dating back 400 years, Kondapalli toy-making was practised by the skilled local artisans of the region. They were known as aryakhastriyas or nakarshalu. The toys are inspired by mythological characters, rural life, domestic animals, the Dasavatharam (the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu) and sometimes, toddy tappers. The community of woodcrafters traces its ancestry to Muktharishi, a renowned sculptor mentioned in the Brahmanda Purana. They toys are made using simple tools and from tella poniki, a softwood sourced from the Kondapalli Hills. The parts are fused together using makku, a paste of tamarind seed powder and sawdust. Finally, artists add details using vegetable dyes and enamel.