In 2027, the Board Game Studies Colloquium travels to the historic “City of Palaces,” Mysore (Mysuru), India.
Mysore is widely regarded as the cultural soul of Karnataka and a legendary hub for traditional Indian ludic heritage. The city’s history is inextricably linked to the patronage of the Wodeyar dynasty, most notably Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar III, a polymath who not only played but designed intricate board games and card games (Ganjifa) that are still studied by historians today.
The region offers an unparalleled immersion into the evolution of board games, from ancient temple carvings to royal court traditions
With the Support of
Local Organizers
Raghu Dharmendra, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana
Gyaneshwar Singh, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana
Remote Organizers
Jacob Schmidt-Madsen, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (Denmark / Germany)
Tiago Hirth, CIUHCT, Ludus (Portugal)
Scientific Committee
Alex de Voogt, Drew University (USA)
Gyaneshwar Singh, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana (India)
Jacob Schmidt-Madsen, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (Denmark / Germany)
Jorge Nuno Silva, University of Lisbon (Portugal)
Marco Tibaldini, University of Bari (Italy)
Ömer Fatih Parlak, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University (Turkey)
Ulrich Schädler, Director Emeritus of the Musée Suisse du Jeu (Switzerland)
The 29th Board Game Studies Colloquium will take place in Mysore, India, February 22–27, 2027.
Registration is currently not open yet.
Below is a rough layout of how our programme will look like.
Sketch Programme
Day 0 – Monday, 22 February, 2027
6.00 pm to 9.00 pm Reception and Registration
Day 1 – Tuesday, 23 February, 2027
9 am to 6.30 pm – Lectures
Day 2 – Wednesday, 24 February, 2027
9 am to 6.30 pm – Lectures
Day 3 – Thursday, 25 February, 2027
Excursion – dinner
Day 4 – Friday, 25 February, 2027
9 am to 6.30 pm – Lectures
Day 5 – Saturday, 26 February, 2027
9 am to 6.30 pm – Lectures
Venue & Accomodation
A Unified Experience at Hotel Southern Star
For the upcoming colloquium, we are pleased to announce that we will be convening at the Hotel Southern Star, Mysuru.
Both the conference sessions and delegate accommodation are housed under one roof.
Location
The Hotel Southern Star is centrally located in the heart of Mysuru, providing easy access to the city’s rich cultural heritage and historic landmarks. This central position ensures that while we remain focused within our unified venue, the vibrant life of Mysuru is just steps away for those wishing to explore.
Travel to Mysuru
We will provide contact with a local travel agency that will advice and arrange for travel to the Venue.
General travel advice is however as follows.
✈️ By AirVia Bengaluru (Recommended): Most international delegates should fly into Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) in Bengaluru. It is located approximately 170 km from Mysuru.
- Flybus: KSRTC operates direct, air-conditioned luxury buses from the BLR airport terminal to Mysuru (approx. 4 hours).
- Private Taxi: Prepaid taxis and app-based services (Uber/Ola) are available 24/7 at the airport.
Via Mysuru Airport (MYQ): Domestic connections are available from major hubs like Chennai, Hyderabad, and Goa.
Mysuru Junction is exceptionally well-connected to Bengaluru and other major Indian cities. From Bengaluru, trains depart almost hourly.
- Vande Bharat / Shatabdi Express: The fastest options, reaching Mysuru in approximately 2 hours.
- Express Trains: Frequent daily services with a travel time of 2.5 to 3 hours.
The new 10-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway (NH-275) has made road travel highly efficient. The drive typically takes 2 to 2.5 hours from Bengaluru city.
- Bus: Regular “Airavat” Volvo AC services run from the Bengaluru Satellite Bus Station (Mysore Road).