Ancient Indian Boardgames: Digital Documentation

Title (dcterms:title)

Bagh Chal, Kamakhya

Description (dcterms:description)

The game of Bagh Chal, popular by several other regional variants and alternate names has also been documented in the Kamakhya temple region of Assam by Jatindra Mohan Datta. He mentions recording this game from two boys of Nepali descent who were seen playing the game at that time. The location of the board as per his observation in 1939 was on the western side of the temple complex a few yards away from the stone wall built by Narak Asura. This board was engraved and the boys were seen playing this with 2 tigers and 20 pieces of goats.

Alternative Title (dcterms:alternative)

Bagh Bandi, Tigers and Goats, Baghchakkar, Chakrachhal, Sher Bakr, Bagh Batti, Sher Bakar, Kaooa, Bam Blang Beh Khla, Bagha Guti, Bagha Cheli, Tagnor, Adu Puli Attam, Puli Meka, Ada Huli, Terhuchu, Kulaochal

Rules (dcterms:instructionalMethod)

Bagh Chal is played on an alquerque board by two players. One has two tigers, while the other has twenty goats. Henceforth they will be called the tiger player and the goat player.
1. The game begins with two tigers on the board, one in each corner, as shown in the diagram.
2. The twenty goats are kept in hand by the player who has taken their side.
3. The goat player takes the first turn.
4. If the goat player has goats in hand, he must use his turn to place one on any empty point on the board.
5. If the goat player has placed all the goats, then he must instead use his turn to move one of the goats from its current position, along a marked line in any direction, to an adjacent empty point.
6. The tiger player in his turn may move a tiger from its current position, along a marked line in any direction, to an adjacent empty point.
7. Only one piece may occupy a point at any one time; stacking of pieces is not allowed.
8. A tiger may sometimes capture, or eat, a goat, instead of moving as described in rule 6.
9. To eat a goat, the tiger player must jump with one of his tigers along a marked line, over an adjacent goat, to an empty point beyond. The goat is then removed from the board and takes no further part in play.
10. The tiger may not change direction in the middle of its jump. A goat is only in danger of being eaten if on one side it has a tiger, and on the other an empty space.
11. Only one goat may be eaten in any one turn. Multiple jumps are not allowed.
12. The tiger player wins when his tigers have eaten five goats. This varies from
13. The goat player wins if the tigers are trapped and the tiger player has no legal move

Creator (dcterms:creator)

Jatindra Mohan Datta

Source (dcterms:source)

‘Bagh Chal At Kamakhya’ by Jatindra Mohan Datta in Sedentary Games of India eds. Nirbed Ray and Amitabha Ghosh

Contributor (dcterms:contributor)

Jatindra Mohan Datta

Rights (dcterms:rights)

Creative Commons

Format (dcterms:format)

Boardgames

Medium (dcterms:medium)

Boardgames on Text

References (dcterms:references)

‘Bagh Chal At Kamakhya’ by Jatindra Mohan Datta in Sedentary Games of India eds. Nirbed Ray and Amitabha Ghosh

Spatial Coverage (dcterms:spatial)

Assam

Variants (dcterms:isVersionOf)

Sher Bakar

Kaooa

Taag dha Nor or Tagnor (Tiger and Cow)

Bagh Chal, Kamakhya

Bam Blang Beh Khla

Bagha Guti

Bagh Bandi

Bagh Chal, Bull Temple (4)

Baghchal, Bull Temple (3)

Baghchal, Handmade

Bagha Chheli ( Odisha)

Entered by (dcterms:accrualMethod)

Adrija Mukherjee

Notes (foaf:status)

The mention of Narak Asuara of Kamakhya temple leads to the local lore of Narak Asura being a devotee of Goddess Kamakhya.

Tags (dcterms:conformsTo)

Sedentary Games

Games of Assam

Bagh Chal

Kamakhya

Hunt

Capture

Two-player

Alquerque

etched

Shape: Square