Chauka Bara 5 House | Silk Zari

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 using Silk Zari work, where metallic zari thread is worked directly onto rich fabric to stunning effect. The grid lines and square borders shimmer with a braided zari rope-stitch, and the non-special squares are each marked with a delicate four-petal zari motif. The home squares carry a majestic double-headed eagle — a motif with deep roots in Indian royal iconography — while the central finishing square is graced with a circular rosette in full bloom. The entire playing field is enclosed by a scalloped zari border that gives the board the weight and grandeur of a royal heirloom.

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.