Snake and Ladder Temple | Kalamkari

Snake and Ladder Temple, rooted in the ancient Indian tradition of Gyan Chaupar — the game of knowledge — is a up to four-player board game that predates the simplified Western version by centuries. Each player begins at square one and aims to reach square 100, with a single cubic or stick die guiding every step of the ascent.

Long before it became a children's pastime, this game was a meditation on karma and the soul's journey toward liberation. Ladders carried the player upward through virtue and grace; snakes pulled them back down through vice and unresolved karma. That original weight still lingers in every throw — a fortunate roll can lift you several squares toward salvation, while a single snake can undo turns of careful progress in an instant. The game is timeless precisely because its tensions are universal.

This set is crafted in the Kalamkari tradition, one of India's oldest hand-painting arts, known for its expressive linework and motifs drawn from mythology and nature. A game so steeped in Indian spiritual imagery finds an entirely fitting home in Kalamkari — an art form that has told these same stories, of serpents and ascent and divine order, for centuries.

The first player to reach square 100 wins. Each set includes the game board, 4 counters, and 1 cubic or stick die. A meaningful gift for families, collectors, or anyone who wants to experience the ancient Indian original behind one of the world's most enduring games.

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.