About Marble Inlay
A family craft rooted in the shadow of the Taj Mahal
A family craft rooted in the shadow of the Taj Mahal
Our Heritage
Marble Inlay is a family enterprise rooted in the heart of Agra's oldest craft quarter — Purani Mandi, Tajganj — a stone's throw from the Taj Mahal that inspired generations of our ancestors.
We practice Pachikari — the ancient Mughal art of inlaying semi-precious stones into white Makrana marble — the same technique used to decorate the world's most famous building. Every piece we make carries that lineage.
Today, under the proprietorship of Ayaan, we continue to create handcrafted marble inlay art for discerning buyers across India and around the world.
Meet the Proprietor
Ayaan has grown up surrounded by marble, semi-precious stones, and the tools of pachikari. As proprietor of Marble Inlay, he brings together deep craft knowledge, a sharp eye for design, and a genuine passion for sharing this extraordinary art form with the world.
"Every piece I sell is something I would keep myself. That is my only standard," says Ayaan.
Ayaan is personally involved in sourcing Makrana marble, selecting semi-precious stones, supervising craftsmen, and ensuring every order — whether a single coaster or a 200-unit corporate gift order — meets the standard the Marble Inlay name represents.
What We Stand For
We use only real Makrana marble and genuine semi-precious stones. We will never offer soapstone, synthetic resin, or painted fakes — even if cheaper alternatives dominate the tourist market.
Every piece is made by hand, the same way craftsmen have worked for four centuries. We do not use machine-cut shortcuts for our premium inlay work.
We price our work to reflect the time and skill involved — which means higher than souvenir stalls, but far below what equivalent work would cost from luxury retailers in London or New York.
By continuing to practice and sell authentic pachikari, we help sustain the livelihoods of Agra's craftsmen and keep this UNESCO-recognised art form alive for future generations.
How We Work
Every piece begins with a design — traditional Mughal floral patterns, custom commissions, or modern adaptations of classic motifs
Makrana marble is cut, shaped, and polished to the required size. The surface is prepared for inlay work
Semi-precious stones are cut into the precise shapes required for each element of the design using hand tools and small cutting wheels
Channels are carved into the marble and each stone piece is fitted and set by hand. This is the most time-intensive stage
The surface is polished to a smooth, unified finish. The piece is inspected and approved before packaging and dispatch