How Roll the Dice is Reviving Ancient Indian Board Games
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When we started Roll the Dice, we never thought our journey would take us across so many ancient temples and heritage towns. But somewhere along the way, we realized that the real treasures of our culture are not just in the carvings and sculptures – they are hidden in the games that people once played every single day.
Discovering Games in Stone
At Beluru and Halebeedu, while admiring the Hoysala architecture, our eyes went straight to the carvings on the temple steps. And there they were – game boards etched right into the stone. Chowka Bara, Alaguli Mane, Pagade – the same games our grandparents spoke about, but here they were, engraved hundreds of years ago.
📸 Game boards carved on temple steps at Halebeedu
📸 Alaguli Mane pits etched on the side platforms of Beluru temple
When we walked through Hampi, Lepakshi, and Penukonda, the feeling was the same. On temple floors, on mandapa platforms, even on stone benches – board games everywhere. They were not decorations. They were proof that people gathered here, waited for rituals, and passed time by playing together.
📸 Pagade board etched on the stone courtyard of Hampi
📸 Cross and square patterns for Chowka Bara at Lepakshi temple mandapa
The South Indian Trail of Games
Our travels took us further – to the Mylapore temple in Chennai, the ancient temples of Kanchipuram, and the shore temples of Mahabalipuram. Again, the boards greeted us. Squares, pits, and crosses carved into granite. We could almost imagine children laughing, elders teaching rules, and families spending hours in play.
📸 Board markings on the outer prakara walls of Mylapore temple
📸 Stone-carved game boards at Kanchipuram temple courtyards
📸 Chowka Bara boards visible on the rocks near Mahabalipuram shore temple
Family Journeys, Family Treasures
These trips were not just research. They were family journeys. We went together – husband, wife, kids – and each time we spotted a game board, there was excitement, almost like finding hidden treasure. For us, these are the real treasures. They made every long drive, every temple walk, every stop for tender coconut water, completely worth it.
📸 Our kids tracing the outlines of a board at Penukonda fort ruins
📸 A family moment at Beluru after spotting an ancient game board
Why We Do What We Do
When we bring back these games today, through our mats, pawns, and workshops, it’s not just about selling a product. It’s about reviving what we saw and felt in those temple courtyards. We want the next generation to know that Indian board games are part of our heritage, just like sculptures, music, and dance.
📸 Roll the Dice mats inspired by ancient game boards we saw on our journeys
At Roll the Dice, we are proud to be on this journey – rediscovering, reviving, and sharing these treasures with all of you.
So next time you visit a temple at Beluru, Halebeedu, Hampi, Lepakshi, Penukonda, Mylapore, Kanchipuram, or Mahabalipuram – look down at the stones. You might just find a game waiting for you.
And if you want to play them now, you can always check them out at https://rollthedice.in
Experience It in Mysuru
And when you come to Namma Mysuru, don’t forget to visit the Roll the Dice – Experience Center. Here, you can sit with your family and friends and play the very same games we discovered carved on temple floors centuries ago. These are not just games – they are living pieces of our culture, waiting to be played again.
You can also explore them at https://rollthedice.in