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