Chauka Bara 5 House | Lambani Embroidery

Chauka Bara is one of India's oldest race board games, documented in Sanskrit texts as Dyootaardha and still played under a dozen regional names across the subcontinent. Two to four players race their counters across a 5×5 grid, with movement governed entirely by the throw of four wooden cowries — making every round an equal mix of fortune and forward-thinking.

The closer your counters inch toward the centre, the higher the stakes. There is a catch, though — a player must capture at least one opponent's piece before any counter can advance to the inner squares. Land on a rival and send them all the way back home; roll a chauka (four) or baara (eight) and earn a precious bonus throw. Roll either three times in a row during a single turn, however, and the entire turn is lost — a rule that keeps even the luckiest players honest.

This board game is handcrafted in the Lambani embroidery tradition of Karnataka. Each grid line is worked in dense looping chain-stitch threadwork, and the special home and centre squares are marked with embroidered four-petal flower motifs that sit beautifully against the rich background fabric. The playing field is framed by a layered decorative border — one row of looping stitch in a contrasting thread, one in a warm tone — before meeting the broad woven outer border that finishes the piece. It is the kind of craftsmanship you feel as much as you see.

The first player to guide all four counters into the central square wins. Each set includes the game board, 16 counters (4 sets of 4), and 4 wooden cowries. A wonderful gift for families, board game enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates a living craft tradition.

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.