Who Invented Ludo Game? Exploring History, Evolution Origins, Variations, and Roots of the Ludo Board Game 

Ludo, the game that brings families and friends together for generations, boasts a rich history as the colors on the board. Did you know that the Ludo game which we all love originated in our own country in ancient India? Yes, that’s right it was named Chaupar/ Pachisi and was a favorite pastime of the Royalty. Over time this game has evolved and traveled the world eventually becoming the modern Ludo that we know today.

What is Ludo – The Board Game?

Ludo is a classic board game that can be enjoyed by people of every age and every generation. It doesn’t need many skills to continue playing this board game. One can play this game in their leisure time as per some facts it is believed that 60% of Indians prefer to play ludo in their free time. 

This game originated in India and its concept was adopted by the British who transformed it into a modern-day digital form. Ludo is typically played on a square board which is divided into four colored sections with each one representing an Individual player’s home base, 

To win this game one would need to take all their tokens into a home in the center area of the board from the starting home base, the one player who takes all of the tokens in the center wins the game, and to win you can attack opponents’ tokens as well. While this is just about a particular classic variant of the game which has been a favorite of all of us from school times, remember that this Ludo Game has many other variants and features that differ from the mode you choose to play.

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History of Ludo Game: From the Old Pachisi to Modern Digital Variants

It is known that the ludo originated in the early 6th century and that too took its origin from the Indian subcontinent. This was famously known as Pachisi in the older times or had names like  Chaupar, Chausar, and Parcheesi. Ludo has successfully captivated the players for quite a long period descending from the 6th century to the modern 21st century, from the old maharajas, and emperors to commoners; it has been a source of entertainment for all categories.

The first origin sign of the Ludo game can be traced from the Ellora caves magnificent structures which are believed to built between the 6th and 8th centuries CE, a conclusion can be drawn from these carvings that the game was very popular in those times and was such important that it was carved out in the cave paintings as well.

This old Pachisi game was modified into modern cubical form dice with numbers from 1 to 6. Pachisi was modified to use a cubic die with a die cup and patented as “Ludo” in England in 1896  and further, the Royal Navy took Ludo and converted it into the board game Uckers. The modern form of Ludo is contributed to England who patented it back in 1986.

Origin of Ludo in Hindu Mythology:

As per Hindu mythology, Mahabharata  ludo known by the name of the Pachisi or “Pasha” was part of rural courts, the role of this game came into highlight when the  Shakuni, a cunning advisor to the Kauravas cursed the dice to beat Pandavas and lose everything, eventually making them lose, so this is the Hindu mythology incident which related to the modern form of dice ludo which in that time was famous with the name- “Pachisi.”

The Ancient Ludo: Game of Dice and Boards

Ludo’s journey began with our ancestors and its predecessors, Chaupar and Chausar. These ancient games used four-sided long dice called quaternary lots and featured cross-shaped boards made of cloth and wool. These ancient games were played with sixteen wooden pieces by four players often divided into two teams, it was a popular pastime for royalty.

Pachisi the other old form of Ludo was played with long dice and cowry shells were used to play the game, this form of Ludo was known by the nickname “poor man’s Chaupar.”

Dice has always been a big part of Ludo’s story. In ancient India, they used dice shaped like cubes or rectangles. What’s cool is that these dice had different symbols or just different numbers of dots on each side.

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Modern Version of the Ludo:

Today with the technical advancements the game has surged in popularity tracing from simple Chaupars to competing against anyone in the modern online world Ludo has come a step too far. Today many different versions of the game app are available and have been modified to different versions.

The rise in popularity of the Ludo game was witnessed during the times of the COVID-19 pandemic while people were locked in their houses they chose ludo as a medium of entertainment and also a medium of staying connected. Today many versions and variants of Ludo can be seen in the market and are available on both platforms online and offline, regardless of the advancements and tech updates, the game hasn’t been changed at its core, and the rules of playing are the same- the one who reaches the center home wins the game. 

With its simple rules, easy-to-understand user interface, and online gameplay, it’s no wonder that Ludo continues to be still one of the most trusted easy, and popular board games to spend one’s leisure time but today with a twist you can earn even from spending time playing on the ludo, along with having fun. 

Who Invented Ludo?

Alfred Colier is believed to be the inventor of the modern Ludo as he was the first one to apply for a patent regarding the Ludo in the year 1891, he named his ludo a “Royal Ludo”, and his patent was approved in the same year after few months of his patent application which gave him solely rights on the Ludo and barred others replicating and duplication of the board and idea, since then, “Collier Ludo Boards” and its Rule leaflet were sold across the world.

But it was not Alfred who invented the ludo, the evidence of ludo and similar games is found in the royal court of the Akbar where he divided the courts into two different colored blocks and had space for the Pachisi game court in each palace. Also, evidence of ludo can be found in the Hindu Mythology epic Mahabharata tale.

List of International Ludo Variants:

Ludo’s popularity has led to various variants and versions of it around the world. Each with its own features, attractions, and special touches to stand out showing off the ideas from the different places. Whether it’s changing the rules or the look of the board, these versions of Ludo show how people have made the game their own. Let’s explore some of these cool variations from different countries and see how Ludo has changed and grown all over the world.

Name	Country of Origin
Uckers	British
Pachisi	Indian
Fia	Swedish
Eile mit Weile	Swiss
Cờ cá ngựa	Vietnamese
Parchís	Spanish
Parqués	Colombian

Rules of the Ludo game:

The rules of Ludo are simple and easy to understand. The game can be played individually with a single player or can be played with multiple players in partnerships. Each player gets a chance to select their Token colors and area, even players have an option of entering the game either with a single token or with all four tokens depending upon player’s choice.

Overview

In these two, three or four people can play without being on teams and each player starts with four tokens in their own colors, kept at the beginning of their corner. Players take turns moving their tokens onto the board and racing them around in a circle. When a token reaches its home stretch, it moves up a column to the finish line. The first person to reach the central stretch wins the game. So all you need to do is take all four tokens in the center to win. The other players often keep playing to see who comes in second, third, and fourth place.

Gameplay

Rolling a six will give you another turn unless you already have all your pieces out. But watch out, roll three sixes in a row and you can’t move at all. The special spot at the end is your safe zone. So You need to roll the exact number to get your pieces in those final spots and win the game.

Players roll dice to move their tokens around the board in this game. You must roll a six to bring a token onto the board from your starting area. When moving, you have to be careful, as if you land on the opponent’s piece you would need to restart once again. If you land on your own piece, you build a “block.” Landing on a block with your opponent’s piece sends them back to start, too!

A Ludo Game board

The board is normally square with a cross-shaped playspace, with each arm of the cross having three columns of squares, usually six per column. The middle columns usually have five squares colored; these represent a player’s home column. A sixth colored square not on the home column is a player’s starting square. 

At the center of the board is a large finishing square, often composed of colored triangles atop the players’ home columns, thus depicting “arrows” pointing to the finish.

There are four corners of different colors, each player is assigned a color token and a corner and to win they have to take all four tokens to the center before anyone else takes it. 

Conclusion:

By the end of it, you must have had an idea about the Ludo, its rich history, and how it has taken the modern present form. The history of Ludo is really interesting and stretches back to the 6th century. It started in India and has evolved with time, but still remains a favorite of people everywhere. Ludo is not only limited to moving pieces on the board it is a symbol of people coming together from different cultures. So, when you play Ludo with friends or family, think about its history and how it brings people together.

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