Introduction
India’s traditional painting and folk art clusters are living testaments to the nation’s creative genius and deep-rooted spirituality. Across its length and breadth, each region has evolved a distinct art form — from sacred temple murals and scroll paintings to tribal storytelling traditions rendered on walls, fabric, palm leaves, or paper. These arts are not mere decorative expressions but serve as vehicles of myth, devotion, and folklore, often passed down through generations of artisan families. Exploring these clusters offers travelers a chance to connect with the heart of India’s cultural identity, where every stroke, color, and motif carries centuries of history and meaning.
State-wise & Union Territory-wise Traditional Painting & Folk Art Clusters of India
Andhra Pradesh
- Kalamkari (Srikalahasti & Machilipatnam): One of India’s oldest hand-painted and block-printed art forms depicting mythological tales using natural dyes and fine detailing.
- Cheriyal Scroll Painting (Telangana region): Vibrant storytelling scrolls narrating folk epics and village life, painted in bold colors and rustic style.
Arunachal Pradesh
- Thangka Painting (Tawang, West Kameng): Intricate Buddhist scroll paintings depicting deities and mandalas, influenced by Tibetan art traditions.
Assam
- Manasa & Vrindavani Art (Majuli Island): Ancient religious and cultural paintings inspired by Vaishnavite traditions introduced by Srimanta Sankardeva.
- Mask and Mural Art (Sattras of Majuli): Painted masks and murals used in devotional theatre and dance.
Bihar
- Madhubani (Mithila Region): A globally celebrated folk art using natural dyes and geometric patterns to depict mythology, nature, and social themes.
- Sujni & Godna Art (Bhagalpur & Darbhanga): Quilted and tattoo-inspired folk embroidery-painting hybrids used for storytelling.
Chhattisgarh
- Gond & Tribal Wall Paintings (Bastar & Raigarh): Primitive yet sophisticated depictions of flora, fauna, and festivals, blending art with everyday life.
Goa
- Christian Folk Art & Mural Traditions (Old Goa & Salcete): Religious mural paintings and Christian iconography blending Indian and Portuguese influences.
Gujarat
- Pithora Paintings (Rathwa Tribe, Chhota Udepur): Vibrant ritual wall paintings created as offerings to deities, celebrating tribal faith and folklore.
- Rogan Art (Nirona, Kutch): A rare hand-painting technique using castor oil and natural pigments to create intricate motifs on fabric.
- Warli Art (border with Maharashtra): Tribal paintings using symbolic white motifs on mud walls, representing life and rituals.
Haryana
- Phulkari Wall Motifs (Ambala & Hisar): Traditional floral embroidery and mural art with bright, geometrical designs used in rural homes.
Himachal Pradesh
- Kangra & Basholi Miniature Paintings: Exquisite Pahari-style paintings depicting love stories, nature, and deities in delicate brushwork.
- Thangka Art (Lahaul & Spiti): Buddhist scroll painting traditions influenced by Tibetan monastic art.
Jammu & Kashmir (UT)
- Basohli Miniature Painting (Kathua): One of India’s earliest schools of miniature painting with rich colors and bold lines.
- Thangka Art (Ladakh): Religious scrolls with intricate depictions of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, made by monks and local artisans.
Jharkhand
- Sohrai & Kohbar Wall Paintings (Hazaribagh): Tribal mural traditions drawn by women during festivals, featuring animals and sacred symbols.
Karnataka
- Mysore Traditional Painting: Temple-inspired classical paintings using gesso work, gold foil, and natural colors.
- Chittara Art (Shivamogga & Uttara Kannada): Tribal mural painting by the Devaru community depicting nature, fertility, and auspicious symbols.
Kerala
- Kerala Mural Paintings (Guruvayur, Ettumanoor, Mattancherry): Temple mural traditions using natural pigments to depict scenes from Hindu epics.
- Kalamezhuthu (Malabar Region): Ritual floor art created with colored powders during temple festivals.
Madhya Pradesh
- Gond Painting (Mandla & Dindori): Intricate line and dot patterns depicting animals, folklore, and tribal legends.
- Pithora & Bhil Paintings: Colorful tribal depictions of gods, celebrations, and rural life.
Maharashtra
- Warli Art (Thane & Palghar): Minimalistic tribal art using white pigment on mud walls to portray social life and rituals.
- Paithani Border Painting (Paithan): Ornamental art often inspired by handwoven silk motifs.
Manipur
- Tribal Wall Painting & Dance Murals (Imphal): Folk art celebrating nature, dance, and spiritual symbolism.
Meghalaya
- Khasi & Garo Tribal Wall Paintings: Folk murals depicting nature, community life, and indigenous spiritual symbols.
Mizoram
- Tribal Motif Art (Aizawl): Geometric and symbolic patterns used in murals and textile-inspired paintings.
Nagaland
- Tribal Symbolic Painting (Kohima & Mon): Warrior motifs and ancestral symbols painted on homes and community spaces.
Odisha
- Pattachitra (Raghurajpur & Puri): Iconic palm-leaf and cloth paintings narrating tales of Lord Jagannath and Hindu mythology.
- Saura Paintings (Rayagada & Ganjam): Primitive tribal art featuring human and animal motifs in geometric patterns.
Punjab
- Sikh Miniature & Phulkari Art (Amritsar & Patiala): Religious manuscript illustration and floral folk art combining devotion and design.
Rajasthan
- Phad Painting (Shahpura & Bhilwara): Long scroll paintings narrating heroic legends of local deities like Pabuji and Devnarayan.
- Pichwai Painting (Nathdwara): Devotional paintings depicting Lord Krishna’s life and festivals.
- Miniature Schools (Jaipur, Kishangarh, Udaipur): Rajput, Mughal, and Deccan-inspired fine miniature traditions.
Sikkim
- Thangka Painting (Rumtek & Gangtok): Buddhist scroll paintings featuring mandalas, deities, and meditative symbolism.
Tamil Nadu
- Tanjore Painting (Thanjavur): Famous for its rich gold leaf, vivid colors, and religious themes.
- Kalamkari (Srikalahasti border region): Mythological hand-painted art influenced by Andhra temple traditions.
Telangana
- Cheriyal Scroll Painting (Warangal): UNESCO-recognized narrative art, telling stories from epics in scroll format with folk flair.
Tripura
- Tribal Wall Painting (Agartala & Gomati): Folk art traditions illustrating rituals and harvest festivals.
Uttar Pradesh
- Mughal & Awadhi Miniature Painting (Lucknow & Varanasi): Refined painting styles influenced by Persian art.
- Sanjhi Art (Mathura): Intricate paper stencil art depicting Radha-Krishna themes.
- Kalamkari & Folk Mural Work (Mirzapur): Devotional and floral wall motifs.
Uttarakhand
- Aipan Art (Kumaon Region): Red-earth drawings made with rice paste during religious and social ceremonies.
West Bengal
- Patachitra (Naya Village, Midnapore): Storytelling scroll paintings combining art and song.
- Kalighat Painting (Kolkata): 19th-century urban folk art known for expressive lines and social commentary.
- Alpona & Kantha Art: Floor and fabric designs drawn during rituals and embroidered into household items.
Union Territories
Delhi
- Contemporary Folk Art Revivals: Exhibitions and workshops showcasing rural art from across India at Dilli Haat and Crafts Museum.
Ladakh (UT)
- Thangka & Mandala Art (Leh): Sacred Tibetan Buddhist paintings created by monks and artisans.
Puducherry (UT)
- Auroville Art Studios: Reviving Indian folk and tribal painting traditions through cultural residencies and eco-art initiatives.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands (UT)
- Tribal Body Art & Symbolic Motif Traditions: Indigenous painting forms used for rituals and storytelling.
Art Villages & Painting Trails of India
Travel through India’s sacred and folk art landscapes to witness master artisans at work, learn the stories behind every motif, and experience how devotion, creativity, and heritage blend seamlessly into color, line, and form.