Pallankuzhi is one of the South Asian Mancala games. This game is played in Southern India (at the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala,Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka) also in northern Sri Lanka. It is known with many names depending on the languages and places where is played. It is also said that this is found in Pyramids of Egypt.
In Tamil language it is known as பல்லாங்குழி (Pallāṅkuḻi]), transcribed at least as Pallaam kuzhie, Pallaanguzhi, Pallanguzhi, Pallanguli, Pallankuli. “Pallankuzhi” is also used in Tamil as a generic name for Mancala games mostly played in South India and northern Sri Lanka by Tamil women, also in many African countries.
In the old Tulu language of coastal Karnataka this game is known as Arasaafa (or The King’s game).
In Telugu, the names are Vaamana guntalu or Vanagallapeetha.
In Malayaalam, it is known as Parakkuzhi, which means “to distribute through the holes” (kuzhis).
The Pallanguzhi boards are available in shops around old big Temples. I got the Pallanguzhi Board at Kumbeswarar Temple in Kumbakonam.
Brahmanyan
Bangalore.