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Board games are a great way to enjoy time with family and friends. But have you ever wondered where some of these games came from? Many popular board games played around the world today were invented in India. Games like Chess (Chaturanga), Ludo (Pachisi), and Carrom have deep roots in Indian history. One of the most famous board games that was invented in India is Snakes and Ladders, originally known as Moksha Patam or Paramapada Sopana Patam. This ancient game was more than just fun — it was based on Indian spiritual teachings. The ladders showed good deeds like kindness and truth, helping players rise, while the snakes represented bad actions like anger or greed, bringing them down. Today, Snakes and Ladders is enjoyed by people across the world — in the UK, USA, and many other countries — but its meaningful theme and origin go back to India’s wise and rich culture.
Table of Contents
- 1 The Origins: From Moksha Patam to Snakes and Ladders
- 2 List of Popular Board Games Invented in India
- 2.1 1. Snakes and Ladders (Moksha Patam) – Invented around the 13th century
- 2.2 2. Chess (Chaturanga) – Invented around the 6th century CE
- 2.3 3. Ludo (Pachisi) – Invented around the 4th century CE
- 2.4 4. Carrom – Popularized in India during the 18th–19th century
- 2.5 5. Chaupar – Invented around the 4th century BCE
- 3 Interesting Facts About Popular Board Games Invented in India
- 4 FAQs
Let’s take a journey through history to explore how this simple yet powerful game was born in India and how it traveled across the world.
The Origins: From Moksha Patam to Snakes and Ladders
Snakes and Ladders wasn’t always just a game of chance and fun. Originally known as Moksha Patam or Paramapada Sopana Patam, it was created in India around the 13th century. The game was deeply connected to Indian philosophy and spirituality.
It was designed to teach children moral values. Ladders symbolized virtues like truthfulness, compassion, and humility, which helped a person climb higher in life. On the other hand, snakes represented vices such as greed, anger, and pride, which dragged a person down.
The end goal of the game wasn’t just to win — it was to reach Moksha (salvation), showing how good deeds lead to a better life and soul’s freedom.
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List of Popular Board Games Invented in India
India has gifted the world many board games that were not only entertaining but also full of values, skills, and lessons. Here’s a table showing some of the most popular board games invented in India, along with their original names and descriptions:
| Board Game Name (Modern) | Original Name | Description |
| Snakes and Ladders | Moksha Patam / Paramapada Sopana Patam | This game taught moral values. Ladders showed good deeds that helped you rise, while snakes represented bad actions that pulled you down. |
| Chess | Chaturanga | An ancient strategy game that trained the mind. It was about war, planning, and moving wisely on the board. It later became modern Chess. |
| Ludo | Pachisi | A race game played by Indian kings and queens. Players moved pieces based on dice rolls, aiming to reach home first. |
| Carrom | – | A popular indoor game where players use fingers to strike disks into pockets. It improves focus and aim. |
| Chaupar | Chaupar | Similar to Pachisi, this game involved chance and strategy. It is mentioned in the Mahabharata during the famous dice game. |
1. Snakes and Ladders (Moksha Patam) – Invented around the 13th century
Snakes and Ladders, originally called Moksha Patam or Paramapada Sopana Patam, was created in ancient India to teach children about moral values. It used ladders to represent good deeds such as kindness, truth, and respect, while snakes showed bad actions like anger, greed, and cheating. The goal was to reach the top, or moksha (spiritual freedom). The game was invented around the 13th century by Indian saints. Later, during British rule in the 19th century, it was taken to England, where it became known as Snakes and Ladders and spread to many parts of the world.
2. Chess (Chaturanga) – Invented around the 6th century CE
Chess, known in ancient India as Chaturanga, was invented around the 6th century CE. It was a game of war strategy, played on an 8×8 board. The four divisions of the army — elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry — were represented by the game pieces. The game helped develop thinking skills, decision-making, and planning. It spread from India to Persia and then to Europe, eventually becoming the modern game of Chess, which is now played globally in schools, clubs, and world tournaments.
3. Ludo (Pachisi) – Invented around the 4th century CE
Ludo comes from the ancient Indian game Pachisi, which was invented around the 4th century CE. It was a cross-shaped board game where players moved their tokens according to dice rolls, trying to reach the center before others. It was popular among Indian kings and queens, especially in the Mughal courts. The British simplified the game in the 19th century and named it Ludo. Today, it is one of the most loved family games around the world.
4. Carrom – Popularized in India during the 18th–19th century
Carrom is a strike-and-pocket board game believed to have become popular in India during the 18th or 19th century, though its exact origin is not clearly recorded. The game involves using a striker to hit small wooden discs (called carrom men) into corner pockets. It became a favorite indoor game in Indian homes due to its simplicity and skill-based play. Carrom improves aim, focus, and concentration. Today, it is played in homes and competitions across Asia, the Middle East, and even Europe.
5. Chaupar – Invented around the 4th century BCE
Chaupar is an ancient Indian board game similar to Pachisi but played with cowrie shells instead of dice. It was created around the 4th century BCE and was deeply rooted in Indian traditions and epics. In the Mahabharata, the famous dice game between the Pandavas and Kauravas was a game of Chaupar. The game involved both skill and chance and was enjoyed in royal courts and among the common people. It later inspired the development of Pachisi and similar games.
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Interesting Facts About Popular Board Games Invented in India
India has always been a land of wisdom, creativity, and fun, and our ancient board games are perfect examples of that! These games are not just about winning or losing; they hold stories, traditions, and lessons passed down through generations. Here are some amazing and lesser-known facts about popular board games that were born in India:
Snakes and Ladders
- Moral Game: Originally called Moksha Patam, this game was designed by Indian saints to teach values like truth, humility, and discipline.
- Spiritual Journey: The final square represented Moksha (salvation), while snakes symbolized sins like anger, pride, and greed.
- British Twist: The British changed the game’s message. They removed the religious and moral meanings and made it just a fun game for children.
Chess (Chaturanga)
- Name Meaning: The word Chaturanga means “four divisions of the army” — infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots.
- Royal Training Tool: It was used to train kings and warriors in strategy and decision-making.
- Global Fame: Chess evolved from Chaturanga, passed through Persia (as Shatranj), and reached Europe, becoming today’s international game of Chess.
Ludo (Pachisi)
- Game of Emperors: The Mughal emperor Akbar had a giant Pachisi board built in his palace courtyard at Fatehpur Sikri and used real people as game pieces!
- From Cloth to Cards: The original game was played on large cloth boards using cowrie shells as dice.
- British Edition: The British modified Pachisi into a simpler version in the late 19th century and named it Ludo in 1896.
Carrom
- Home-Grown Fun: Carrom is one of the few games with unknown origins, but is believed to have started in Indian households before becoming a popular indoor sport.
- No Age Bar: It’s a game loved by children, adults, and even grandparents — all generations enjoy playing together.
- International Reach: Carrom is now played in over 25 countries, including Sri Lanka, the Maldives, the UK, and Germany.
Chaupar
- Mythical Connection: In the Mahabharata, the fateful dice game between the Pandavas and Kauravas was a game of Chaupar.
- Spiritual Symbolism: Chaupar was not just a game but also symbolized the game of life, involving both fate (dice roll) and choices (moves).
- Cultural Heritage: It remains a part of traditional festivals and cultural gatherings in parts of North India.
India’s contribution to the world of board games is truly remarkable. From teaching life lessons through Snakes and Ladders, to training minds with Chess, to encouraging family fun with Ludo and Carrom, these games are a perfect blend of wisdom, culture, and entertainment. What started in ancient palaces, temples, and homes has now reached every corner of the world, crossing all borders and ages.
These timeless games are not just a part of India’s past — they are gifts that continue to bring people together. So the next time you sit down to play a board game, remember: you’re also playing a small piece of Indian history.
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FAQs
Snakes and Ladders (originally called Moksha Patam) is one of the most popular board games that was first invented in India.
The game was created to teach children moral values. Ladders represented good deeds, and snakes showed bad actions. The goal was to reach moksha or spiritual freedom.
Chess, known as Chaturanga in ancient India, was developed around the 6th century. It was used to teach war strategies and planning.
The Indian version of Ludo is called Pachisi. It was played on a cross-shaped board using cowrie shells and was popular among Indian kings and queens.
Yes, Carrom became popular in Indian homes during the 18th–19th century. Although its exact origin is not clear, it is considered a traditional Indian indoor game.
The game of Chaupar is mentioned in the Mahabharata. It was the game of dice played between the Pandavas and Kauravas.
Yes, many of them, like Ludo, Chess, Carrom, and Snakes and Ladders, are still very popular in India and around the world.
Indian board games often teach important life lessons like teamwork, strategy, patience, and moral values — all while having fun!
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