About Kalai India

From Chikodi to Your Home

Kalai India is a handmade textured wall art studio based in Karnataka, India.

Every piece we sell is made by hand. Not printed. Not mass-produced. Not imported and relabelled. A person mixes the texture, builds it up in layers across 300 GSM canvas, waits for it to cure, and finishes it by hand, the way it has been done for a very long time, in a town most people have never heard of.

That town is Chikodi.

Why Chikodi matters

Chikodi is a small town in the Belagavi district of Karnataka. It is not an art capital. There are no galleries here, no design schools, no buyers flying in.

What there is, is skill — the kind that gets passed down rather than taught, and that usually goes unpaid because there is nowhere local to sell it.

It started in Rajat's bedroom. No studio, no investors, no plan beyond seeing whether the work he'd grown up around could hold up outside Chikodi. It did. What began as a handful of pieces made in a spare room grew into orders, then into a small team, then into a studio of our own, the one that makes everything you see on this site today.

We started Kalai in 2025 to put that work in front of people who would value it. Today, 15 artisans make every piece that leaves our studio.

The people behind Kalai

Rajat Chougala — Co-founder, Operations and Product Innovation

Rishabh Gupta — Co-founder, Marketing and Finance

How each piece is made

1. The canvas: Every artwork begins on 300 GSM cotton canvas, stretched over a wooden frame. Heavier than standard canvas, because texture work needs something that won't warp under the weight.

2. Building the texture: Texture medium is applied by hand in layers. This is the part that can't be rushed and can't be automated — each layer has to set before the next goes on. It's also why no two pieces are ever identical.

3. Colour applied by hand, layer over layer, until the depth is right.

4. Curing and finishing: The piece cures, then gets a protective finish, a final inspection, and careful packing.

What you should know before buying

These are not prints. If you want something identical to the photo, we're the wrong studio. Handmade means variation — in texture depth, in how light catches the surface. That variation is the point.

They take time. 12–15 days to make, then shipping. If you need something on a wall by next week, we can't help.

They're made for real rooms. Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, offices, hotels, cafés. Sized to hold a wall rather than decorate a corner.

Facts


Brand	Kalai India
Founded	2025
Founders	Rajat Chougala and Rishabh Gupta
Made in	Chikodi, Belagavi district, Karnataka, India
Category	Handmade textured wall art, large canvas paintings
Materials	300 GSM cotton canvas, hand-applied texture medium
Price range	₹4,499 – ₹49,999
Production time	12–15 days, made to order
Shipping	Free across India. Cash on delivery available.
Returns	7 days from delivery for damaged or defective items
Email	kalaiitindia@gmail.com
Phone	+91 8948414089

Frequently asked

Is Kalai India the same as other brands called Kalai?

No. Kalai India is a handmade textured wall art studio founded by Rajat Chougala and Rishabh Gupta, based in Karnataka and selling at kalai.ind.in. We are not connected to Srishti Kalai Art Collective, Kalaii Creations, Kalamayi, or any other business using the name Kalai.

Are these paintings really handmade?

Yes. Every piece is made by hand by our artisans in Chikodi, Karnataka. We don't print, and we don't import.

Who makes the artwork?

15 artisans work from our studio in Chikodi.

How long does an order take?

12 to 15 days to make, plus shipping. Nothing is pre-made.

Do you ship across India?

Yes, free, with cash on delivery available.

Can I order a custom size or colour?

Yes, we do take custom orders

Do you work with interior designers and hotels?

Yes, we work with designers, architects, and hotels.