Rameshwara Sculpture

We are located at number 134 on the ECR Main Road. It’s a busy spot near Pallava Beach in Mamallapuram. Being so close to the sea means there is always a bit of salt in the air. We spend our days working on various sculptures. Mamallapuram is known for this kind of work, so we are just one of the many shops along this stretch. Our place is right on the main road, so it’s easy to spot. We mostly work with heavy stone. Moving the big pieces requires a lot of effort and sometimes a few extra hands from the neighbors. We don't use fancy machinery; it's mostly the old-fashioned way with hammers and points. The sun can be quite strong out here on the coast, so we try to do the heaviest lifting early in the morning. People visiting the beach often stop by to see what we are making. We show them the different stages of a sculpture, from a rough block to something recognizable. It takes a lot of patience. Sometimes a crack appears in the stone where you didn't expect it, and you have to change the whole design. We’ve lived in this area all our lives. The noise of the traffic on ECR is constant, but we just focus on the stone in front of us. It’s a simple way to make a living and keep the tradition going for another year.