Chakram (Chowka Bhara) – The Ancient Indian Game of Chance & Choice
Dating back to the first millennium CE, Chakram is one of India's oldest and most cherished movement race board games. Played with traditional cowrie shells on a spiral grid, this eco-friendly classic balances chance with tactical decision-making, offering an authentic heritage alternative to modern mass-produced race games like Ludo.
Why You'll Love It
Rich Indian Heritage: Carved into ancient temple corridors and played for centuries during festivals like Ugadi and Navaratri.
Holistic Cognitive & Social Learning: Promotes numerical cognition, spatial reasoning, and social-emotional skills, making it perfect for family bonding, classrooms, and intergenerational play.
Product Specifications
Feature
Specification
Players
2–4 Players (Individual or Team Play)
Target Age
Suitable for Ages 6+
Board Format
Traditional 5x5 Grid with Spiral Pathway & Cross-Marked Safe Squares
In the Box
1 Handcrafted Cloth/Wooden Board, 16 Playing Tokens (4 per player), 4 Traditional Cowrie Shells, Rulebook
Game Objective
Navigate all 4 pawns around the outer spiral circuit and safely return them to the central home (Chauka)
How to Play
1. Setup & Starting
Place the board in the center. Each player chooses 4 pawns of one color/type, which start off the board in reserve. Throw the 4 cowrie shells to determine move values based on how many land mouth-side up.
2. Roll Mechanics & Values
1 Open: Move 1 square (Qualifies entry onto the board).
2 Open: Move 2 squares.
3 Open: Move 3 squares.
4 Open (Chauka): Move 4 squares + earn an extra turn!
0 Open (Bara - all curved up): Move 8 (or 12) squares + earn an extra turn!
3. Movement & Captures
Entry: Pawns enter the board's starting square only on a qualifying throw (usually a roll of 1 or 4/8).
Spiral Path: Pawns navigate around the outer grid along a designated spiral path toward the central home square.
Captures & Safe Zones: Landing on an opponent's pawn captures it, sending it back to reserve. Pawns resting on marked "Safe Squares" (corners and center intersections) are protected and cannot be captured.
4. Winning the Game
Strategically advance your pawns, time your pushes through unsafe zones, and execute captures to delay opponents. The first player to bring all 4 pawns safely into the central home square wins!
Product features
Perfect for Social and Emotional Learning and travel friendly.
Materials and care
Artisan-crafted using sustainable and child-safe materials, ideal for eco-conscious consumers
