Hyderabad · Est. 2002 · Art · Culture · Heritage
Kalakriti
India
An umbrella brand whose mission is to acquire, preserve and promote the art, craft and culture of Indian origin — and art that features India as its subject.
One vision.
Many expressions.
“The idea is to take art that’s both beautiful and affordable to every household and workplace, so that you can appreciate it every day.” — Prshant Lahoti, Founder
Kalakriti India is an umbrella brand formed of independent companies that have unique identities and purpose — yet interconnected and working towards a common mission set by the parent brand. Each division operates as a distinct platform, together spanning art and craft retail, hospitality, heritage restoration, cultural tourism, archiving, and e-commerce.
Founded in 2002 by Rekha and Prshant Lahoti with the opening of Kalakriti Art Gallery in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, the brand has grown into one of the most significant cultural enterprises in South India — deeply rooted in Hyderabad’s heritage, and committed to making India’s art and culture accessible to the world.
Prshant Lahoti’s family, the Lahotis, have been part of the erstwhile Hyderabad State for 160–170 years — coming originally from Rajasthan and making Hyderabad their Janma Bhoomi and Karma Bhoomi. The family has been deeply involved in philanthropy, education, and cultural institutions across the Deccan for generations.
TiE Charter Member · American India Foundation, Trustee RSPHL Lahoti Trust
An engineer and business administrator by training, Prshant Lahoti built one of India’s most significant private collections of antique maps and vintage photographs before formalising it as Kalakriti Archives in 2015. His vision spans art, heritage, hospitality, and cultural diplomacy.
FICCI FLO Chair · 30 Outstanding Achievers, FICCI FLO 2013
Trained in fine arts and music, Rekha Lahoti has led Kalakriti Art Gallery from its founding in 2002 to become one of South India’s foremost gallery institutions. Under her direction, the gallery has grown into a full cultural ecosystem connecting artists, scholars, collectors, and communities.
A graduate of St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and a former national Table Tennis player, Harshvardhan Lahoti leads Kalakriti India's affordable art and retail division — bringing original Indian art to a broader audience without compromising on quality or authenticity. He represents the next generation of a family devoted to India's art and cultural heritage.
Six platforms.
One purpose.
One of South India’s largest private art galleries — 4,500 sq ft of exhibition space in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Spanning modern masters to the most compelling emerging voices in South Asian contemporary art, with the Kalakriti Collective platform championing new talent.
kalakritiartgallery.com →One of the largest private archives in India — over 10,000 historic maps spanning seven centuries and 9,000 vintage photographs. Google Arts & Culture partner. Exhibited at the National Museum New Delhi, Kochi Biennale, and the Musée Guimet in Paris.
Explore the archives →A phygital platform for curated original artworks, rare oleographs, lithographs of Indian monuments, and the Nostalgia collection of vintage photographs. ArtCafe’s motto is Art—Design—Living: making original art accessible, affordable, and beautifully presented for homes, offices, and gifting.
artcafe.in →A landmark heritage restoration project near Charminar, Hyderabad. Kalakriti India has entered a tripartite agreement with the Telangana State Government and QQSUDA to restore the 1900 Nizam-era Sardar Mahal — transforming it into a cultural hub with a museum, art gallery, café, and cultural interpretation centre.
Read more →A platform for immersive cultural tourism in Hyderabad — offering guided and virtual experiences that span heritage, craft, cuisine, performing arts, and spiritual traditions. Designed for students, tourists, corporate delegations, and international visitors seeking a deep and authentic encounter with the city.
A non-profit organisation dedicated to art education, community engagement, and Hyderabad’s cultural life. Organises the annual Krishnakriti Art and Culture Festival attended by 5,000+ visitors, provides the Krishnakriti French Scholarship in association with the Embassy of France, and leads public art initiatives across the city.
Sardar Mahal —
Bringing history back
Built in 1900 by Nizam VI Mir Mahboob Ali Khan for his beloved consort, the Sardar Mahal near Charminar is one of Hyderabad’s finest Nizam-era structures — a magnificent blend of Persian, European, and Indian architectural styles that stood largely dormant for over sixty years after being taken over by the Municipal Corporation in 1965.
Kalakriti India has entered a landmark tripartite agreement with the Telangana State Government and the Quli Qutub Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA) to restore and reimagine the Sardar Mahal as a living cultural destination — a museum, cultural interpretation centre, art gallery, and café that will anchor the Charminar heritage precinct.
Restoration was substantially completed in early 2026, with the Sardar Mahal set to reopen as one of Hyderabad’s most significant heritage tourism and cultural destinations.
Mahal Est. 1900 · Near Charminar, Hyderabad
Art as a civic
responsibility
Founded in 2003 in memory of the late Krishnachandra B. Lahoti, the Krishnakriti Foundation is Kalakriti India’s non-profit arm — dedicated to promoting art, culture, and education across Hyderabad and beyond. The Foundation believes that art is not a luxury but a civic necessity: a force for community, identity, and intergenerational connection.
Each January, the Foundation organises the Krishnakriti Art and Culture Festival — one of Hyderabad’s largest and most beloved cultural events, bringing together artists, scholars, performers, and the public across four to five days of exhibitions, film screenings, seminars, workshops, and performances.
Held every January in Hyderabad, the Festival is a four-to-five day celebration of art, culture, and heritage — combining exhibitions, performances, film screenings, workshops, and public engagement programmes attended by over 5,000 people each year.
In association with the Embassy of France in India, the Foundation funds deserving candidates to study fine arts in Paris — one of the only privately funded arts scholarships of its kind in South India.
The Foundation leads public art commissions, art education programmes, and scholarships across Hyderabad — embedding art into the city’s streets, schools, and public spaces.
“Kalakriti India is formed of independent companies that have unique identities and purpose, yet interconnected — working towards the common mission of the parent brand.”
Kalakriti India · Hyderabad · Est. 2002
Kalakriti India —
all our platforms
Banjara Hills, Hyderabad — 500 034
Telangana, India
Landmark: Hyatt Place Lane