Pachisi
Pachisi is the National Game of India. Although many western imitations of the game exist such as Ludo from England and the American Parcheesi, nothing compares with the original. Pachisi and the older and more complicated Chaupur (which can also be played with this board) are games of skill - suitable for both adults and children.
Click on the picture to enlarge.
Masters Traditional Games has gone to considerable lengths to produce
a beautiful inlaid board which features the correctly-shaped bee-hive
pieces which are wonderfully aesthetic. You won't find this hand-made
board anywhere else. The squares are Yew and Macassar
Ebony with an Ash surround and an Oak border. The board stands on 4 flat
legs with felt bases. The pieces are made from matching natural wood and
the bases are also protected with felt.
Accompanying the board are six real cowrie shells, the forerunner to dice that must be used to give the correct moves and authentic flavour to the game.
Optionally, sets of three "long dice" are also available. These dice are not made to the same high quality as the board but enthusiasts wishing play the game of Chaupar will require them. Historical game connoisseurs might find them useful for other games, too. They are numbered 1, 2, 5 & 6.
Boards are 36 x 36cm and come with the bee-hive pieces, cowries and a rules sheet. The game does NOT have a storage box. This product contains small parts that represent a choking hazard for small children. Not suitable for children under 5 years old.
Change to $  Change to  |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hand Made Pachisi board with cowrie shells |
£101.19 | £118.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Set of 3 wooden Long Dice |
£9.28 | £10.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
Solid Oak Box for hand-made board games |
£57.79 | £67.90 | Apologies - product is discontinued | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Due
to various requests, we have also made available special hand-made Oak wooden
cases that the boards can slot into thus providing a storage box for the pieces
that is convenient to carry around.
It is shown here with an Uckers board but any of the hand-made boards will slot into it.
Product Index
General
Info
View
Basket
Contact Us
Game Rules
Shortcuts
Chess
Go
Croquet
Skittles
Bowls
Poker Sets
Casino Games
History of Pachisi and Ludo
Pachisi (also spelt Parcheesi, Parchisi, Parchisi, Parchesi; also known as Twenty-Five) is the National Game of India. The name comes from the Indian word "pacis" which means twenty five, the highest score that could be thrown with the cowry shells. Pachisi is, in fact, the younger sister of Chaupar (or Chausar or Chaupad), a more venerable, complex and skilful game that is still played in India.
The Indian Emperor Akbar I of the 16th century Mogul Empire, apparently played Chaupar on great courts constructed of inlaid marble. He would sit on a Dias four feet high in the centre of the court and throw the cowry shells. On the red and white squares around him, 16 beautiful women from the harem, appropriately coloured, would move around according to his directions. The origins of Pachisi and Chaupar are lost in time but uncertain evidence indicates that forms of the game were in existence in the Indian region from at least the 4th century AD. Both have hardly changed since Emperor Akbar played although the game is not as widely played in India as it once was.
Pachisi boards as played in the street are often constructed of cloth, 6 cowry shells are thrown to determine the moves and the counters are made of wood in a beehive shape. Pachisi is a 'Cross and Circle' game, variations of which appear all over the world
In 1896, a westernised version of Pachisi was published in England under the name Ludo (Latin for "I play"), a game which has been popular in that country ever since. The game however, is a simplistic version of Pachisi for children. In America, an analagous simplified version appeared called Parcheesi which was for decades, Selchow & Richter's bestselling game.
You can learn more about the history of Ludo and Pachisi from The Online Guide to Traditional Games.