Indian Folk Tales
Discover our collection of 132 Indian folk tales drawn from the vast ocean of India’s oral storytelling tradition. These stories span the subcontinent — from the Himalayan foothills to the coastal villages of Kerala, from Rajasthan’s desert kingdoms to Bengal’s riverine landscapes.
Indian folk tales are among the oldest narratives in human civilization, with roots stretching back thousands of years. Passed down through generations of village storytellers, traveling bards, and grandmother’s bedtime sessions, these tales encode the wisdom, humor, and spiritual depth of Indian culture. Our collection includes stories of clever Brahmins, wise kings, magical animals, devoted wives, and mischievous tricksters.
Each tale carries a moral lesson drawn from India’s philosophical traditions — the importance of dharma (duty), karma (consequences), and the triumph of wisdom over brute force. Whether you’re a parent seeking Indian bedtime stories for kids, a teacher looking for moral stories from India, or a folklore enthusiast, this collection brings the richness of Indian storytelling to life for modern readers.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 3-5
The Prince And The Fakir
The Prince And The Fakir: There was once upon a time a King who had no children. Now this King went and laid him down to rest at a place where four roads met
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 3-5
The Lambikin 2
The Lambikin 2: Once upon a time there was a wee wee Lambikin, who frolicked about on his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly. Now one day he
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 3-5
The Lambikin
The Lambikin: Once upon a time, there was a wee wee Lambikin, who frolicked about on his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly. Now one day he set
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 3-5
The Legend Of Gwashbrari The Glacier Hearted Queen
The Legend Of Gwashbrari The Glacier Hearted Queen: Once upon a time, ever so long ago, when this old world was young, and everything was very different from
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 3-5
The Magic Bed
The Magic Bed: One very hot day, a young Prince, or Rajah as they are called in India, had been hunting all the morning in the jungle, and by noon had lost
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Monkey With The Tom Tom
The Monkey With The Tom Tom: In a remote wood there lived a monkey, and one day while he was eating wood-apples, a sharp thorn from the tree ran into the tip
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 3-5
The Mother And The Daughter Who Worshipped The Sun
The Mother And The Daughter Who Worshipped The Sun: Once upon a time there lived a mother and a daughter who worshipped the Sun. Though they were very poor
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 3-5
The Fish Prince
The Fish Prince: Once there were a king and queen who had two sons. The older of the two was a very short and ugly man with only one eye, and that was in the
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Foolish Weaver
A weaver’s foolish obedience to a farmer’s absurd commands nearly destroys him.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 3-5
The Interesting Journey Short Story
The Interesting Journey Short Story: Once upon a time, a little boy named Rohan lived near the foot of the Mt. One day Rohan’s dad woke up bright and early and
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 3-5
The Ivory City And Its Fairy Princess
The Ivory City And Its Fairy Princess: One day a young prince was out practising archery with the son of his father’s chief vizier, when one of the arrows
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Jackal And The Crocodile
The Jackal And The Crocodile: Once upon a time, Mr. Jackal was trotting along gaily, when he caught sight of a wild plum-tree laden with fruit on the other