India 's hugely varied climate and topography allow an enormous variety of trees to bloom, and these have inspired craftsmen working with myriad media to give expression to their creativity. The many elegant shapes and forms of trees have inspired weavers, stone carvers, handblock printers and painters, and are often the subject of wall panels, carpets and textile prints. Tribals, who live in the forests, believe that trees are the abode of friendly spirits and guardians. Each region has crafting skills that make use of whatever local wood is available: walnut, teak, pine, rosewood, sandalwood, ebony, willow, mango and more. Decorative timberwork is widespread. The carpenter is considered to be fairly senior in the hierarchy of artisans.

Here are some of the wooden crafts you'll find in India :

• Simple kitchen implements – rolling pins, ladles, serving bowls
• Furniture – settees, swings, beds, desks, chairs, chests
• Toys – rattles, spinning tops, educational toys, animals
• Carved blocks for hand printing textiles
• Bangles
• Wooden balconies
• Carved Doors, columns, beams, pillars, brackets, screens
• Photoframes

here are places which have become synonymous with the wooden crafts they produce, like Kondapalli and Chennapatna in Karnataka, known for their wooden toys, and Sankheda in Gujarat , known for its elaborate swings.