Paramapadham game: rules, history and how to play online
Paramapadham is the Tamil name for Snakes & Ladders, the dice game almost everyone in India has played on a summer afternoon. Climb the ladders, slide down the snakes, and be the first to reach square 100.
This page has the rules step by step, the game's names in other Indian languages, a little of its long history, and how to play Paramapadham online for free: with family on a video call, with friends in a group, or against the computer on Viaraa.
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What is Paramapadham?
Paramapadham is played on a square board of 100 numbered squares, running from 1 at the bottom to 100 at the top, back and forth in rows. Ladders join some squares to higher ones, and snakes join some squares to lower ones. Each player has one piece and moves it by rolling a single die.
It needs no skill at all, which is exactly why it's loved: a grandparent and a five-year-old have the same chance, and a single snake near the top can turn the whole game around. It's a game of luck, laughter and loud groans.
The name means "the highest place". In the old versions of the game, square 100 stood for heaven, or Vaikuntam, and reaching it was the point of the game.
Paramapadham rules, step by step
These are the rules Viaraa uses, which are the ones most families play with:
- 1Two to six players take part. Everyone starts off the board, before square 1.
- 2On your turn, roll the die and move your piece forward that many squares.
- 3If you land at the foot of a ladder, climb straight up to the square at its top.
- 4If you land on a snake's head, slide down to the square at its tail.
- 5Roll a 6 and you roll again. But if you roll three 6s in a row, your turn passes to the next player.
- 6You need the exact number to land on square 100. If your roll would take you past 100, you stay where you are and try again next turn.
- 7The first player to land exactly on square 100 finishes the game. Everyone else can keep playing for second and third place, if you like.
Families often add their own rules: some need a 1 or a 6 to start, some let a player go back down if the roll is too high. On Viaraa the board follows the rules above, so everyone plays the same game.
Its names across India
Snakes & Ladders is one of the few games with a name in almost every Indian language:
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Tamil | Paramapadham (பரமபதம்) |
| Telugu | Vaikuntapali (వైకుంఠపాళి) |
| Kannada | Haavu Eni Aata (ಹಾವು ಏಣಿ ಆಟ) |
| Malayalam | Pambum Koniyum (പാമ്പും കോണിയും) |
| Hindi | Saanp Seedhi (साँप सीढ़ी) |
| English | Snakes & Ladders |
On Viaraa, the game shows the name that goes with your language, so on the Tamil site it's Paramapadham and on the Telugu site it's Vaikuntapali.
A short history: a game about good and bad deeds
Snakes & Ladders began in India centuries ago as a game with a lesson. Old versions, known by names like Gyan Chaupar and Mokshapat, filled the board with virtues and vices: the ladders started at good deeds like kindness and generosity, and the snakes began at bad ones like anger and greed. Climbing to the top meant reaching moksha, or liberation.
In Tamil homes, Paramapadham has a special place on the night of Vaikunta Ekadasi, when many families stay awake through the night and play the game together.
In the late 1800s the game travelled to England, where the lessons were dropped and it became the Snakes and Ladders sold in toy shops around the world. The board you play today is still the same idea: a long climb, a few lucky shortcuts and a few painful slides.
How to play Paramapadham online for free
On Viaraa you can play Paramapadham in three ways, all in your browser, with nothing to download:
- On a video call: during a one-to-one call with a host, open the game and keep talking face to face while you play. Games inside calls are always free.
- With family and friends: make a group with up to 12 people, chat, and start a game for two to six players whenever you like. Friends join with your Game ID, so nobody needs your phone number.
- Against the computer: in the Games tab, choose Play with Viaraa and play straight away, any time.
Outside calls, playing with friends, in groups and against the computer is free for now. The board shows every snake and ladder, the die is rolled fairly by our server, and the game moves your piece for you, so nobody can miscount.
Tips for a good family game
- Play on a video call with family who live far away: the game gives everyone something to do while you catch up.
- Let the youngest roll first, and let them count the squares out loud.
- Keep a running joke about the longest snake on the board. On our board, it's the one from 87 down to 24.
- Short of time? A game usually takes 10 to 20 minutes.
Looking for more? See the other traditional games or our list of games to play on a video call.
Questions, answered
What is Paramapadham called in English?
Snakes & Ladders. In Telugu it's Vaikuntapali, in Kannada Haavu Eni Aata, in Malayalam Pambum Koniyum and in Hindi Saanp Seedhi.
How many people can play Paramapadham?
Two to six players on Viaraa. You can also play on your own against the computer.
Do you need an exact roll to reach 100?
Yes. If your roll would take you past square 100, you stay where you are and try again on your next turn.
What happens if I roll a 6?
You roll again. But three 6s in a row and your turn passes to the next player.
Can I play Paramapadham online for free?
Yes. On Viaraa, games inside video calls are always free, and playing with friends, in groups and against the computer is free for now.
What does Paramapadham mean?
"The highest place": square 100 stood for heaven, or Vaikuntam, in the old versions of the game.
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