Frequently Asked

Yes. The store is written KALఅA by Kankatala, using the Telugu letter అ (the short "a"). It is commonly written as Kala by Kankatala or Kalaa by Kankatala, and all three refer to the same store on Governors Bungalow Road, Siripuram, Visakhapatnam.

KALఅA is a new store from the Kankatala family, who have been in handloom weaving and saree retail since 1943. It is a separate address and a separate experience, built on the same lineage.

Governors Bungalow Road, Daspalla Hills, Siripuram, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530003. It sits near the Governor's Bungalow in Siripuram, a short drive from the city centre.

The store is open every day of the week, 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. On major festival days it is worth messaging us first to confirm.

Yes, parking is available at the store on Governors Bungalow Road.

That depends entirely on what you are looking for. Many visitors spend an hour or more simply looking, because the collection is arranged by weave and there is a great deal to see. For a bridal or occasion selection, message us ahead and we will keep time aside for you.

Eleven Indian weaving traditions, including Kanchipuram, Banarasi, Uppada, Ponduru, Paithani, Pochampally Ikat, Patan Patola, Jamdani, Gadwal, Kota and Kalamkari. Each has its own chapter on this site describing how it is woven, its motifs and how to recognise it.

Yes. Our team will walk you through weaves, drapes and colours for the occasion. For bridal selections it helps to message ahead so we can keep time aside for you.

Handloom means the cloth was woven by hand, usually from mill-spun yarn. Khadi means the yarn itself was also spun by hand. Our Ponduru sarees are khadi in this strict sense: the cotton is cleaned, spun and woven within a few kilometres of Ponduru in Srikakulam district.

Turn it over. A handwoven pattern is built into the cloth, so the reverse tells you how it was made: Banarasi kadhwa work looks the same on both faces, while cutwork leaves thousands of small snipped thread ends. Ikat shows a soft feathered edge where two colours meet, because the yarn was tied and dyed before weaving; a print has a hard edge. Our weave pages cover these marks in detail, and our team will show you in person.

Requests can be raised within 7 days of purchase. The piece must be unused, unwashed and returned with all original tags and packaging. Once inspected and approved, you can choose either an exchange or a credit note redeemable against a future purchase. Sale and clearance pieces may be marked non-returnable at the time of purchase. The full terms are on our Return Policy page.

No. Our sarees are handcrafted, and small weaving irregularities are a natural part of the handloom process. They are part of what makes each piece unique rather than a manufacturing fault, and on their own they do not qualify a piece for return.

No. We do not offer blouse stitching or alteration services at the store.

Our sarees are sold at the store only. This site is here to show you the collection and the craft behind it, not to sell online. You are welcome to message us about a piece before visiting, and we can set it aside for you.

No. Every saree is chosen from the collection in store.

Yes. You can message Indira, our customer relationship executive, on WhatsApp, or email [email protected]. She can check availability and set pieces aside ahead of your visit.

Yes. The Weaves section covers all eleven traditions we carry, and Weave Stories has short films made at the looms themselves.