Pallanguzhi

Tamil mancala — a two-row 7-pit wooden board played with cowrie shells or seeds.

🌤indoor

What is Pallanguzhi?

Pallanguzhi is a South Indian mancala game played mainly in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Sri Lanka. Two players sit across a two-row 7-pit wooden board, each starting with six cowrie shells or seeds per pit. Players sow seeds anti-clockwise; captures happen on certain empty-pit conditions. It has been played by Tamil families for centuries and features in classical Tamil literature.

Quick facts

Category

Traditional & Cultural Sports

Type

Individual

Players

2–2

Where played

indoor

Country of origin

🇮🇳 India

Estimated origin

Tamil Nadu, South India — descended from ancient Indian mancala

Olympic

No

Popularity

regional

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-24.verified