--- title: "Handcrafted Traditional Indian Board Games & Toys" description: "Explore our handcrafted board games, from Channapatna chess sets to traditional folk games. Rediscover Indian heritage with toys that are built to last." canonical: https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/playful-pastimes-handcrafted-games last_updated: 2025-09-12 --- # Handcrafted Traditional Indian Board Games Tribe Verified · Handcrafted by artisans in Karnataka and Tamilnadu By [Varnam Craft Collective](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective) · Stores in Bengaluru, Mysuru & Goa; Ships across India · ₹850 per set (estimate) Part of [Handcrafted Home Decor & Kitchenware](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/gallery) Reconnect with the games of your childhood, reimagined through the lens of heritage craft. Our games aren't just for play; they are stories told in wood and thread. ## Photos and videos - [Video: What if the classic game of monochromes was infused with some Varnam colour? Our stunning new chess set meets the intricate beauty of Lambadi embroidery. Crafted with precision, this red and green wooden set is a portable work of art.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/66e0a164-669b-4f50-a8a7-8bdea13ba4fe) - [Video: Who could ever tire of a game of tic-tac-toe? Especially when it’s crafted with our charming Kuruvis in the classic Channapatna style. This handmade treasure is the perfect gift for any occasion and a delightful game for all ages.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0075f760-38d7-4900-b530-ddb95f423b66) - [Video: Some classics never lose their charm. Our Channapatna Kuruvi Tic-Tac-Toe is a timeless beauty, reimagined with our signature quirky little birds. It's a piece of heritage, a burst of joy, and a game you’ll never tire of.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6df57a7c-4ef6-4443-8e06-7a15331ed3b7) - [Video: This beautiful board game is the classic 'Goats and Tigers', known as Aadu Puli Aattam. It's a fusion of two crafts: lightweight wooden pawns from Channapatna and a custom-embroidered mat by Lambadi women from Tamil Nadu.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/5da46f15-dffa-4a44-9537-e558ba1cfb33) ## About Playful Pastimes: Handcrafted Games Most commercial board games focus on the win, but ours focus on the feel. Take our Aadu Puli Aattam set—the tigers are turned from local ivory wood and lacquered with non-toxic dyes, while the game mat is hand-embroidered by the Lambadi women of Sitlingi. It is a sensory experience that brings a piece of Indian folk tradition to your coffee table, designed to be kept out and played, not tucked away in a box. We have always believed that play is a serious business. When we started looking at board games, we wanted to step away from plastic and into something that holds a story. Our collection is born from collaboration, marrying the 200-year-old lac-turnery of Channapatna with other regional crafts. Take the classic 'Goats and Tigers'—known locally as Aadu Puli Aattam or Hulli Gatta. This game is not just a pastime; it is a cultural artifact. The wooden pawns are hand-turned by our Channapatna artisans, while the playing board is a custom-embroidered mat from the Porgai artisans in Tamil Nadu. This is the result of the ME to WE project, an effort to bring craftspeople from different geographies together. Our tic-tac-toe sets feature our signature Kuruvi birds, which have become a quiet icon of our brand. They are weighted perfectly to sit on a desk or table, adding a touch of whimsy to your workspace while serving as a functional object. What makes these pieces unique is their longevity. The colours are natural, applied with non-toxic vegetable dyes while the wood spins on a lathe, a technique that has remained unchanged for generations. We suggest you treat these games as home accents. Keep them on your coffee table or office shelf. They are conversation starters that bridge the gap between old-world heritage and modern living. Whether it is a chess set or a simple strategy game, you are holding the work of a real person who spent hours shaping, polishing, and detailing each piece. ## About Varnam Craft Collective I am Karthik. At Varnam, we do not believe in just selling objects. We believe in creating pieces that feel like memories, whether it is a game of tic-tac-toe with our Kuruvi birds or a classic chess set. Come visit our homes in Bangalore, Mysore, or Goa to see how these traditions fit into your life. [See all of Varnam Craft Collective's services](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective) ## More from Handcrafted Home Decor & Kitchenware by Varnam Craft Collective - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/featured) - [The Channapatna Story: A Craft Reimagined](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/the-channapatna-story-a-craft-reimagined) - [The Hands Behind the Craft](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/the-hands-behind-the-craft) - [Kitchen & Dining: Functional Art for Your Table](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/kitchen-dining-functional-art-for-your-table) - [Earthy Ceramics: From Auroville with Love](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/earthy-ceramics-from-auroville-with-love) - [Decorative Dolls & Festive Traditions](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/decorative-dolls-festive-traditions) - [Lighting & Lamps: Handcrafted Glow](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/lighting-lamps-handcrafted-glow) - [Desk & Office Companions](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/desk-office-companions) - [Wall Accents & Home Decor](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/wall-accents-home-decor) - [A Touch of Whimsy: The Christmas Collection](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/a-touch-of-whimsy-the-christmas-collection) - [Indian Folk Art: Minimalist Modern Stories](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/indian-folk-art-minimalist-modern-stories) - [Our Homes: The Varnam Store Experience](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/our-homes-the-varnam-store-experience) - [From the Founder's Desk](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/from-the-founder-s-desk) ## More services by Varnam Craft Collective - [Corporate Gifting](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/corporate-gifting) - [Handcrafted Apparel & Accessories](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-apparel-accessories) - [Artisan Toys & Traditional Games](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/artisan-toys-traditional-games) ## Similar work from other experts - [Handcrafted Channapatna Wooden Toys and Decor](https://mytribe.in/bharath-art-crafts/channapatna-craft-experience/our-handcrafted-collection) by Bharath Art And Crafts · Channapatna Craft Experience · Factory visit in Channapatna - [Handmade Art Kits and Wooden Games for Kids](https://mytribe.in/justaboutartstore/custom-art-decor-products/for-the-little-ones) by Just About Art · Custom Art & Decor Products · Ships across India; Visit studio in Kothanur, Bengaluru - [Handmade Wooden Toys and Custom Decor](https://mytribe.in/kydowoodworking/custom-furniture-woodworking/handmade-toys-decorative-accents) by Kydo · Custom Furniture & Woodworking · Delivers across Bengaluru and Pune; Visit the workshop in Singasandra, Bengaluru - [Nostalgia-Inspired Board Game Tile Designs](https://mytribe.in/mazeconcept.design/product-surface-design/nostalgia-on-walls-the-board-game-tile-collection) by Maze Concept · Product & Surface Design · Studio in Jayanagar; Design services in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa, Mumbai & Shivamogga - [Handcrafted Wooden Decor & Personalized Gifts](https://mytribe.in/the_craft_of_living/custom-resin-decor-gifts/handcrafted-wooden-decor) by The Craft of Living by Prerna · Custom Resin Decor & Gifts · Ships across India; Studio in Thane West - [Quirky Ceramic Decor & Unique Handcrafted Gifts](https://mytribe.in/the-janbo/artisanal-ceramic-wares/quirky-decor-unique-gifts) by The Janbo · Artisanal Ceramic Wares · Pickup at Kodathi Gate studio; Delivers across Bengaluru ## Book To book Varnam Craft Collective, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%2C%20I'm%20looking%20for%20Handcrafted%20Home%20Decor%20%26%20Kitchenware%20by%20Varnam%20Craft%20Collective.) 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