Hyderabad firm crafts Garuda Vahanams from two-century-old Burma teak

Master craftsmen from Myanmar have carved a pair of intricately designed Garuda Vahanams for the Ammapalli Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple in Shamshabad, Telangana Today reports. The 400-kg structures are made from two-century-old Myanmar teak wood, sourced and stored by Anuradha Timber International in Bowenpally.

Chadalavada Sharath Babu, managing partner of Anuradha Timbers, said the firm carried out two years of research for the project. A team visited temples in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and the National Museum in Delhi, studied Garuda iconography, and prepared a 10-page design document covering the face, crown, wings, serpents and other details. The actual carving took one and a half years.

The vahanams will be used during the temple’s Garudotsavam in December. Anuradha Timber International had earlier crafted teak doors for the Ayodhya Ram temple.