Board Game: Discover the Best Games and Travel Experiences in India
When you think of a board game, a physical game played on a prepared surface with pieces or cards, often involving strategy or luck. Also known as tabletop game, it’s usually something you pull out at home or during a long flight. But in India, board games aren’t just pastimes—they’re woven into daily life, family gatherings, and even travel experiences. From ancient games like Pachisi—played on cloth boards with cowrie shells—to modern ones you’ll find in cafés in Goa or hostels in Rishikesh, board games are a quiet thread connecting generations.
Travelers often miss this side of India. While everyone talks about temples, beaches, and trains, few notice how families in Jaipur play Chaupar after dinner, or how backpackers in Pondicherry gather for a game of Ludo under string lights. These aren’t just games—they’re cultural rituals. In Kerala, you’ll find elders teaching kids Snakes and Ladders using local myths instead of numbers. In Mumbai, street vendors sell handmade Pachisi boards carved from wood, sold right outside historic forts. These aren’t souvenirs; they’re living traditions. And yes, some of the most memorable moments on a trip to India happen not at a landmark, but around a worn-out board with strangers who quickly become friends.
Board games also make perfect travel companions. On long train rides—like the Palace on Wheels—you’ll see families playing Carrom, a game as Indian as chai. In budget hostels across North India, you’ll find a box of dice and a deck of cards passed around like a shared secret. Even in luxury hotels in Delhi, you’ll spot guests trying their hand at Snakes and Ladders, not because they’re kids, but because it’s a way to slow down. These games don’t need Wi-Fi. They don’t need batteries. They just need people. And that’s why they stick with you longer than any photo.
What you’ll find below isn’t a list of the best board games to buy. It’s a collection of real stories—how a game of Ludo helped a tourist connect with a family in Varanasi, why a group of Germans ended up learning Pachisi in Rajasthan, and how a simple card game became the highlight of a two-day trip to Agra. These aren’t travel tips. They’re human moments. And they’re all tied to one thing: the quiet, powerful joy of playing together.
