They are a little expensive, but they carry with them the fragrance and memories of a rich land. The sandalwood sculptures of Kerala are popular souvenirs : icons of Ganapathy - the elephant headed god, the trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, little snake boats, elephants...

Handicrafts emporia across the State offer a range of such sculptures in sandalwood. A sample of our craftsmen's skills, these artefacts capture the expressions, features and proportions of the subject, the golden colour of the wood adding to the richness. Sandalwood retain its fragrance for years, a sprinkling of water on the article can perfume your room for days together.

Price varies with the size and complexity of carving. You can pick one up for anything from Four hundred rupees onwards. The sculptures of nearly 5 foot height are sold for Five hundred thousand rupees (exchange rate -1US$ = 42.6 Indian rupees) at the SMSM Institute, Thiruvananthapuram.