Traditional Indian street game
Paramapadham (Snakes & Ladders)
Paramapadham is the Indian board game behind Snakes and Ladders. Ladders stand for good deeds and snakes for vices, and the top square is Paramapadham, the highest place a soul can reach. In Tamil homes it is played through the night of Vaikunta Ekadasi.
Play Paramapadham free on Google PlayHow it's played on the street
Each player puts a piece at the start, at the bottom of the board.
Take turns throwing the dice, or cowrie shells, and move that many squares along the path.
Land at the foot of a ladder and climb straight to its top.
Land on a snake's head and slide down to its tail.
The first player to reach the last square at the top wins. Many homes need the exact number to land on it.
Other names
- Moksha Patam
- Gyan Chaupar
- Saanp Seedi Hindi
- Snakes and Ladders English
How it plays in Vilayo
Climb the painted board and dodge the snakes on the way up. Like every game in Vilayo, it is built in real 3D, and the touch controls do what your hands would do on the street.
Levels are short, and each one gives up to three stars. Easy, Medium and Hard tiers bring new grounds and harder challenges, and the whole game plays offline.
Questions about Paramapadham
Why is Paramapadham played on Vaikunta Ekadasi?
Devotees keep awake through that night, and a game about climbing to the highest place is a traditional way to spend it.
Is it different from Snakes and Ladders?
It is the older form of the same game. Paramapadham boards are often painted with gods, virtues and vices, where the modern board has plain squares.
Can I play Paramapadham on my phone?
Yes. Paramapadham is one of the 12 games in Vilayo, free on Android. It plays offline, in English, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada.
More street games
Goats & Tigers
Aadu Puli
Hopscotch
Nondi
Kites
Pattam
Five Stones
Kallangal