History
Over 4,000 years ago, India's first known board games were devised. Monarchs and other aristocrats frequently played these games. Among the most famous early Indian board games were:- Chaturanga: It is a four-player strategy game that is thought to be the origin of contemporary chess. The game takes place on a 64-square board with four pieces: infantry, elephants, chariots, and cavalry.
- Pachisi: It is a cross-and-circle game akin to modern ludo. The game is played on a 24 square square board. Players throw dice to move their pieces across the board and aim to reach the centre square first.
- Ashta Chamma: Similar to modern backgammon, Ashta Chamma is a board game. The game is played with two players on a 24-point board. Players roll dice to move their pieces about the board and compete to be the first to remove all of their pieces.
- Chaupar: Chaupar is a cross and circle game similar to pachisi. The game is played on a 56-square square board. Players throw dice to move their pieces across the board and aim to reach the centre square first.
- Ganjifa: It is a deck of playing cards for various board games. Ganjifa cards are frequently decorated with exquisite pictures and are regarded as works of art.
- Ludo: It is a modernised version of the ancient Indian game pachisi. Ludo is a square board game with 56 squares and four players. Players use dice to move their pieces across the board to be the first to reach the centre.
