Panchi | Kalamkari

Panchi is a traditional two-player board game with a distinctly elegant structure — the board itself is shaped like a bird, with a wide body and a narrow stem through which coins must finally escape. Each player commands five coins, starting from their home and racing through the board in opposing directions, converging at key junctures before pushing into the inner stem to bear off. Movement is governed by five wooden cowries, whose throw determines how far — and how boldly — you dare to move.

The game flows swiftly, but never carelessly. The two players cut across each other's paths at the board's shared squares, and here the stakes are highest — land on an opponent's coin and it's sent home, resetting all their progress. There's a sting in the rules too: you cannot advance your coins into the inner stem unless you've first drawn a cut. Strategy isn't just about racing; it's about picking the right moment to strike.

This set is rendered in the Kalamkari tradition, one of India's oldest hand-painting and block-printing arts, known for its fluid linework and richly detailed motifs drawn from nature and mythology. The characteristic illustrative style of Kalamkari gives the board a warmth and visual depth that is impossible to replicate by machine.

The first player to bear off all five coins wins. Each set includes the game board, 10 coins in 2 sets of 5, and 5 wooden cowries. A thoughtful gift for families, game enthusiasts, or anyone who appreciates traditional Indian craft and strategy in equal measure.

Part of Ramsons Kreedaa Kaushalya — traditional Indian board games researched, revived, and handcrafted in Mysore since 1970.

🤲 Because this is a 100% handmade product, every piece is one of a kind. The stitching, thread colour, and pawns may vary slightly from what you see in the images — and that's exactly what makes yours truly unique. No two boards are ever exactly alike; each carries the individual touch of the artisan who made it.