Goats and Tigers | Kalamkari

Goats and Tigers (known traditionally as Huli Kallu) is a classic Indian hunt strategy board game for 2 players. One player commands 3 tigers, fierce and outnumbered, while the other marshals a flock of 16 goats — individually vulnerable, but powerful as a collective. No wooden cowries or dice are needed; this is a game decided entirely by wit and positioning.

The tigers hunt aggressively, leaping over lone goats to eliminate them one by one, while the goats work to hem the predators in until none can move. The asymmetry is what makes it so compelling — the tigers need only take out 6 goats to win, but the goats need discipline and coordination to surround all three. A lapse in either camp can swing the game entirely.

This board is handcrafted in Kalamkari, the ancient Indian art of hand-painted cloth. The distinctive cross-shaped grid is set within a circular outline and surrounded by four hand-painted animal heads — a lion, a rhinoceros, a goat, and a tiger — each occupying a corner of the playing field. The border carries a bold repeating chevron pattern in the earthy, natural palette characteristic of Kalamkari work, with circular rosette motifs anchoring each corner.

Tigers win by capturing at least 6 goats; goats win by immobilising all three tigers. Each set includes the game board, 16 goat counters, and 3 tiger counters.

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.