indias-stories
Nimmalakunta
Tholu Bommalata Shadow Puppets
November – February After dark Performance ≈ ₹500 pp
Visitor Info
Location
Nimmalakunta
Best Time
November – February
Timings
After dark
Entry Fee
Performance ≈ ₹500 pp
About
Tholu Bommalata Shadow Puppets
Translucent goat-hide puppets up to 1.8 m tall, coloured and perforated, throwing coloured shadows on a lamplit screen as the Ramayana is sung all night.
Activities
Evening shadow-puppet performance Watch a puppet cut and dyed from hide Try manipulating a puppet behind the screen The Dharmavaram silk-weaving town nearby
Gallery
Visual Journey
Experiences
Activities
✦Evening shadow-puppet performance
✦Watch a puppet cut and dyed from hide
✦Try manipulating a puppet behind the screen
✦The Dharmavaram silk-weaving town nearby
Useful Tips
Travel Tips
💡
Nimmalakunta is the surviving puppeteer village, near Anantapur.
💡
The families now also make lampshades to stay afloat — buy one.
💡
Performances are traditionally all night; ask for a short set.
Tholu Bommalata Shadow Puppets
Nimmalakunta