---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-a-tavil-made-of'
title: 'What is a tavil made of?'
author:
  name: rajeevk
  url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-gb/user/fce96177fd193d3a'
date: '2026-10-19T15:18:54+00:00'
type: website
summary: 'A tavil has a jackwood shell, a buffalo-hide right head and a goatskin left head, fixed to hoops now usually of steel.'
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  - 'Instruments & artforms'
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 FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# What is a tavil made of?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 

A **[tavil](/en-gb/instrument/tavil)**'s shell is hollowed from a solid block of jackfruit wood. The two heads use different hides: water buffalo skin on the right head and goat skin on the other. The skins are fixed to hoops, historically of bamboo, and steel hoops have replaced bamboo because bamboo breaks. A paste is applied inside the left face, over a circle about 5 cm across.



 

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