Luck & Strategy
Combines the unpredictability of traditional dice with thoughtful decision-making.
TRADITIONAL GAME • KARNATAKA
What is Chowka Bara?
Chowka Bara is a traditional Indian board game from Karnataka that combines luck and strategy. Players use traditional dice to move their tokens around the board, aiming to bring all their tokens safely to the home position before their opponents.
The game also allows players to capture opposing tokens, adding an element of strategy and competition.
Traditionally enjoyed with family and friends, Chowka Bara is a simple yet engaging game that encourages counting, planning, decision-making, and social interaction.
Move & Capture
Players move their tokens around the board and can capture opposing tokens.
Count & Plan
Encourages counting, planning, and decision-making throughout the game.
Play Together
A traditional game enjoyed with family and friends around the board.
Luck may decide the roll. Strategy decides the move.
More than a board game, Chowka Bara brings traditional play, friendly competition, and face-to-face interaction together around the family table.
Ready to Play Chowka Bara?
Discover a traditional Karnataka board game and bring the family together for a game of strategy and fun.
CHOWKA BARA
Player count, age, duration and equipment
2–4Players
6+Years
20–45Minutes
Strategy & RaceGame
Game details
| Players | 2–4 players |
|---|---|
| Recommended Age | 6 years and above |
| Playing Time | Approximately 20–45 minutes |
| Game Type | Traditional strategy and race board game |
| Board | 1 Chowka Bara board with a cross-shaped playing track |
| Playing Pieces | 4 tokens/pawns per player |
| Dice | Traditional Chowka Bara dice, commonly 4 cowrie shells or traditional dice depending on the regional version |
| Objective | Move all your tokens around the board and safely reach the home area before the other players |
Equipment
- 1 game board
- 4-6 playing pieces per player
- Traditional dice / cowrie shells
- Starting/home areas for each player
How to Set Up & Play Chowka Bara
Chowka Bara is easy to set up, but each throw can create new opportunities. Learn the board, understand the cowrie-shell values, and plan each move carefully.
Rules and board formats can vary between regional and family versions of Chowka Bara.
1. Game Setup
- Board: A traditional 5 × 5 Chowka Bara board is commonly used. Larger variants, such as 7 × 7, also exist.
- Players: Up to 4 players can play.
- Pawns: Each player gets 4 pawns/tokens of one colour.
- Dice: The traditional game uses 4 cowrie shells (Kavade) instead of conventional dice.
- Each player places their four pawns in their designated home area.
- The board is placed in the centre so that each player has their own starting position.
2. Cowrie Shell Values
The four cowrie shells determine how many spaces a pawn can move.
| SHELLS SHOWING MOUTH-UP | VALUE | NAME |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mouth-up | 1 | — |
| 2 mouth-up | 2 | — |
| 3 mouth-up | 3 | — |
| 4 mouth-up | 4 | Chowka |
| 0 mouth-up | 8 | Bara / Baara |
A Chowka (4) or Bara (8) normally gives the player an additional throw.
3. How to Play
- Players decide their colors and starting positions.
- All four pawns begin in the player's home area.
- Players take turns throwing the four cowrie shells.
- The player moves one of their pawns according to the number obtained.
- Pawns generally move anticlockwise around the outer part of the board and then follow the designated inner path toward the center.
- A player can choose which of their pawns to move, depending on the available move.
- When a pawn lands on an opponent's pawn, the opponent's pawn is captured ("cut") and sent back to its starting home.
- Capturing an opponent generally gives the player an extra turn.
- Certain marked squares are safe squares, where a pawn cannot be captured.
- In the commonly documented Karnataka variant, a pawn must complete its outer journey and meet the variant's capture requirement before entering the inner section.
- Pawns eventually move toward the central home square.
Want to Learn the Winning Rules?
Continue to discover the winning condition and the special paired-pawn rules of the 5-House southern Karnataka version
REGIONAL TRADITIONS
Different Regions, Different Ways to Play
Chowka Bara is part of a wider tradition of Indian cross-and-race games. Across different regions, similar games have developed their own boards, movement systems, dice or cowrie-shell traditions, and local rules.
These regional games are related traditions and should not automatically be treated as alternate names for Chowka Bara.
Many regions · Shared traditions
| Region | Regional game / variation | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | Chowka Bara | Traditional Karnataka version using cowrie shells and a cross-shaped board |
| Andhra Pradesh & Telangana | Ashta Chamma | Uses a different board layout and regional movement rules |
| Tamil Nadu | Daayam / Thaayam | Uses cowrie shells or dice with its own movement and scoring conventions |
| Kerala | Pachisi / related cowrie games | Local variations in board design and movement |
| Gujarat | Chopat / Chopad | Related cross-and-race game with regional rules |
| Rajasthan | Chopat / Chaupar | Traditional race game with variations in board and movement |
| Maharashtra | Pachisi / related games | Regional forms influenced by the wider Pachisi game family |
| North India | Pachisi / Chaupar | Related traditional games with different boards and rules |
Karnataka
Chowka Bara
Traditional Karnataka version using cowrie shells and a cross-shaped board
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
Ashta Chamma
Key differenceUses a different board layout and regional movement rules
Tamil Nadu
Daayam / Thaayam
Key differenceUses cowrie shells or dice with its own movement and scoring conventions
Kerala
Pachisi / related cowrie games
Key differenceLocal variations in board design and movement
Gujarat
Chopat / Chopad
Key differenceRelated cross-and-race game with regional rules
Rajasthan
Chopat / Chaupar
Key differenceTraditional race game with variations in board and movement
Maharashtra
Pachisi / related games
Key differenceRegional forms influenced by the wider Pachisi game family
North India
Pachisi / Chaupar
Key differenceRelated traditional games with different boards and rules
KARNATAKA
Chowka Bara
Traditional Karnataka version using cowrie shells and a cross-shaped board.
Learn How to Play Chowka Bara
Across India, traditional race games carry the character of the regions and communities where they are played.
Historical Evidence & Cultural Context
Chowka Bara is a traditional Indian race-and-strategy board game with a long-standing history in South India. While traditional Indian games have been played for generations, the exact date and place of origin of Chowka Bara are not firmly established.
REGIONAL HERITAGE
A Game Rooted in Karnataka
In Karnataka, Chowka Bara is traditionally associated with the Mysuru region and is also known as Chakaara or Chakka in parts of North Karnataka. Traditional versions use cowrie shells, known as kavade, along with playing pieces.
DOCUMENTED HERITAGE
Evidence of Traditional Play
INTACH documentation records Chowka Bara among traditional games in and around Bengaluru temple environments, reflecting its place within Karnataka’s intangible cultural heritage.
Traditional Indian board games were also sometimes drawn, carved or played on communal spaces such as temple platforms, steps and other public areas.
View Heritage Reference
TRADITIONAL MATERIALS
Simple Materials, Shared Play
Traditional versions of Indian board games could be created using simple, locally available materials. Boards could be drawn on the ground or floor, while objects such as tamarind seeds, cowrie shells, stones or other small pieces could be used during play.
Board
Cowrie shells
Playing pieces
Natural materials
LEARN • WATCH • PLAY
Explore Chowka Bara
Whether you are learning Chowka Bara for the first time or exploring its different regional versions, discover the rules, watch the game in action and choose the set that suits your play.
📖 RELATED GUIDE
How to Play Chowka Bara
Our detailed How to Play Chowka Bara guide explains the 5-House and 7-House versions, player setup, cowrie-shell values, pawn movement, capturing and regional rules.
5-House + 7-House • Setup • Rules • Cowrie Values • Regional Variations
Read the Chowka Bara Guide
🎥 VIDEO GUIDE
Watch How Chowka Bara Is Played
The same guide includes a video tutorial for the 7-House version, demonstrating how the game is played.
🛒 PLAY THE GAME
Choose Your Chowka Bara Set
Explore our handcrafted Chowka Bara sets and choose the version that fits the way you want to play.
Classic Chowka Bara Board Game | 5 & 7 House Combo Set with Durable Mat and Pawns
Includes both 5-House and 7-House versions, cowrie shells, playing pieces and an instruction document.
Rs. 900.00
Explore Combo Set →
Classic Chowka Bara 5 Houses Traditional Indian Board Game | Cotton Cloth Mat & Colorful Pawns
A traditional 5-House version featuring handcrafted Channapatna pawns.
Rs. 625.00
Explore 5-House Set →
Classic Chowka Bara Board Game | 7 House Edition with Traditional Design & Handcrafted Pawns
A 7-House version featuring a handmade mat and Channapatna wooden pawns.
Rs. 850.00
Explore 7-House Set →