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Town Planning in ancient India
1. 1
Town Planning in ancient India
as depicted in Shilpa shastra texts
Compiled by
Dr.A.S.Nene
Retired Professor of Civil
Engineering, VNIT Nagpur
Anand 6/3/2019
2. A family comprises of two or more persons. A
village is place where many families reside
near by.
Ancient science and technology comprises ten
sub –branches. Town Planning is the ninth
branch. It comprises five techniques and one
skill.
3. 1. Setting of Markets –AapaN Vidya
2. Construction of Palaces- Raaj Gruha Vidya
3. Public Buildings- Sarwajanavass Vidya
4. Layout of Parks and Gardens- Vanopawan Vidya
(includes Horticulture as a skill)
5. Construction of Temples- Dewalaya Vidya
Five Techniques under ancient Town Planning
4. 4
1. Religious – Ujjain, Hardwar, Gaya etc.
2. Political –Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai etc.
3. Business –Surat, Kanpur, Muradabad etc.
4. Tourist- Simla. Kulu, Masuree etc.
Four types of Towns
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5. 5
As per Mayamatam towns are of five types,
1. Gram- Village
2. khet- Bigger village
3. Kharvat – small city
4. durg -Fort city
5. Nagar-city
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6. 6
As per Kashyapa samhita there are
14 types of towns
1 G ram –Small village,2. Khet –Village, 3.kharvat – Colony,
4.Durg-Fortified town, 5. Nagar- Town, 6.Rajadhani-
Capital city,7. Pattan-Port, 8.Dronmukh- Harbor city, 9.
Shibir –Military camp,10.Skandawar- Military
Cantonment, 11.Sthaneeya- Check post, 12.Nidamb- big
town, 13.Nigam-Corporation, 14. Shakhanagar- Suburb
town .
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7. 1. Prapaa – Planning of water
2. Mandap- Pavilions
3. AaapaN- Planning of Bazars
4. Sarvajanvas- Public buildings
5. Rajavaralaya- Courts .
9-Requisites of ancient town planning
9. 1-Prapaa-Water management
9
As per Vastu texts, an owner should first dig water well.
The knowledge of underground soil and rock layers
help in deciding foundation type and depth.
Water from rivers is collected in big tanks.
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10. 2-Pavilion
10
मंडं पाति इति मंडपम्
Sixteen types of Pavilions
Pavilions are places of protection from rains
and sun rays. These are used for Yadnya,
Exhibition, religious ceremonies. Their sizes
vary as per use.
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11. 11
1. Marook- Protection from sun rays
2. Vijay – for Vadnyas
3. Siddha –Coronation ceremony
4. Padmak- for dance and music
performances
5. Bhadrak- Marriage ceremonies
6. Shiv- for signing treaty
7. Ved –for thread ceremonies
8. Alankrut- for exhibitions.
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12. 12
9. Darbha-Sports and wrestling
10. Koushik – for get together
11. Kuladhaare – For shredding of hairs near a religious
place
12. Sukhaang –Food parties
13. Soukhyak- Factory sheds
14. Garbha-For entertainment
15. Malya –for felicitation
16. Malyadrut- For election meetingsAnand 6/3/2019
13. The bazaar should have a outer ring road .
Mayamatam 10.80
Planning of Bazaars
ब्रम्हावृिपथमेकं ित्ांिरापणं कार्यम ्
14. The arrangement is like a flower.
•Central Part- Jewelry shops, Watch towers
with armed guards.
•North-East Part- Vegetable shops, fish and
meat shops.
•East to South East part- shops for oils, ghee
and jiggery .
•South East to South part- Metal utensils.
•South to South west part- Shops dealing with
iron , lead etc
3- Bazzar -AapaN
14
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15. •West to Northwest Part- shops dealing salt, woolen
cloths and oils.
•Northwest to North Part-Flowers and perfumes.
•North to Northeast Part- cosmetics
•Medicine shops can be in any part of bazaar.
•AapaN- permanent shops, VipaNi – temporary
shops
15Anand 6/3/2019
17. Planning of Market
Part Shops
E-NE Meat, Fish and Vegetables
E-S Eateries
S-SE Utensils
S-SW Lead and cloth shops
SW-NW Grocery shops
N-NW Woolen cloths, oil and salts
N-NE Flowers, perfumes
Central Gems and artifacts
All parts Medicine, Ghee and Honey
19. सारणि2- Town planning rules
Kautilya
Part Shops or residences
North-
east
Advisors’ houses
Water tanks
Place of sacrifices
Houses of priests
South-
east
Workshops
Horse stables
Warehouse
Utensils’ shops
Village products
20. East Flowers
Groceries
Houses of warriors
South-
east
Brokers shops
Weapons
Business shops
Soldiers houses
Meat or wine shops
South Wholesale market
Recreation places
South -
west
Prisons
Stables for camels
21. North-
west
Shops of cotton or Wooleen
cloth or leather goods
Hospitals
Cow sheds
Gems shops
West Semi skilled labors
Central Palaces
22. Table 3- Town planning as per Bhrugu
Samhita
Part Use Part Use
North Gardens East Businessmen's
residences
South Dancers North-east Potters and
washermen
West Un-skilled
labors
Central part Bazaar and
palaces
All parts Water wells
23. Guidelines given in Bhrugu Samhita
शस्िं सवयत् वाप्र्ादद ह्र्ुत्तरे पुष्पवादटका ।
दक्षिणे गणणकावाटं पररि: शूद्रजन्मनाम्॥
वैश्र्ानां वणणजां प्राचर्ां मध्र्े राजग़्रुहं िवेि ्।
प्रागुदीचर्ां कु लालानां वापकानां दह ित् च ॥
िृगुसंदहिा अ. १०
24. Town planning as per Mayamatam
Direction or Part Houses or Shops
•North – Oil or Ghee shops
•South –Sheds of Cow or Buffalo
•West- Hermitages of Saints
•East- Gardens
•North-west – Shops of meat or fish
25. Description of Court room is given below.
The room should have two big doors with
guards
There should be clear open space around
the court.
There should be arrangement for sitting of
staff.
5-Court of Justice
25Anand 6/3/2019
26. Public hall should have no walls so the proceeding
can be watched by all.
Council room of a king should be long and should
have tall walls along east-west directions.
The seating arrangement should be facing east
direction.
The walls should be grilled types. There should be
special arrangement for dignified persons
27. सिा च सार्ावृत्तकु ड्र्हीना ऽतिदूरि: प्रेिणकमयर्ोग्र्ा ।
उत्तुंगकु ड्र्ा नृपमंत्शाला पूवायपरव्र्ामर्ुिा मनोज्ञा॥
कू टाकारं वा िश्स्मन ्िि: पश्श्चमिो ददभश ।
राज्ञां भसंहासनं स्थाप्र्ं कार्य प्रांग्मुंं सवयदा बुधै: ॥
बदहजायलककु ड्र्ं स्र्ात्तव्दाह्र्े च प्रिा िवेि्।
Seating arrangement in front of a Kings
28. •Seats of minster and Judge in South-east
direction.
•Seats of ambassadors in North-east
direction.
•Seats of Military and other officers in South
direction, with all seats in parallel rows.
•Govt pleader and witness should seat in
central portion.
•Accused person should stand behind In a
cabin.
•The floor should be hard.
29. •Water tanks in east corner to remove makeup of
suspects
•Cots in south corner for injured persons.
•Houses of priests, teachers and astrologers should
be in north-east part of city.
•Ware houses and stables for elephants should be in
south-east part.
•Houses of warriors should be in east part of town.
30. •Town should have tall protection Walls,
Watch towers and strong gates.
•Persons entering or leaving the town
must have their identity cards.
•Proper arrangements for disaster (flood,
fire or earthquake) management.
6- Security of Town
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31. •Gurukul should be far away in west direction.
•Theoretical education in first six months
•Practical education in next six months.
•No tax for such institutions.
7-Educational Institutes
31
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32. Mayamatam describes tree species and the
direction in which these are to be planted
in public gardens.
Horticulture
33. Central part- Trees with hard core inside-Mango,
Jackfruit etc.
Outer part- Trees with hard core outside- Coconut,
areca palm etc.
Remaining part- Trees with hard core throughout-
Tamarind, Sandalwood tree, Babool etc.
Between two trees- Trees with no hard core- Peepal,
Bael etc.
अन्िसारा वृिा र्दद संति ह्वन्िरेसंिु च िे।
र्े संति बदह:सारास्िेऽवप संत्सवेव सवयदा बाह्र्े॥
सकल:सारो र्ेषां िे वृिा: सवयददिु र्ुज्र्ंिाम्।
वृिा तन:सारार्े िेषा िेत्ेषु वियनं नेष्टम्॥
34. The compound wall of a garden should be made of
stone or bricks. Or it should made of thorny shrubs for
protection.
वत् च वप्रं कु र्ायत्तुर्यस्त्ंव्दारगरहसदृशमवप ।
र्व्दा पभलघं कु र्ायत्सपाषाणैबयध्द्यभिवत्तसमचिुरम्॥
कणटकशांाभिवाय वृवत्तमथ करिेिणािंमा कु र्ायि।
35. As per Mayamatam (c.10) space should be reserved
between a town and its suburban for Educational
institutes . The space should have farms and
gardens near to it.
वने वा नगरोपान्िे नागरैस्िु जनैवृयिम् ।
िेत्ारामाकरोवप िं शांानगरमुचचिे ॥
36. As per Manu Smruti, the teacher should teach his
students four things,
1. Shouch- Cleanliness of body as well as the
surrounding area.
2. Aachar- Principles of daily rituals.
3. Agnikarm – Use of fire and its properties.
4. Sandhupaasan – How to remain neutral in debates or
fights.
37. Duties of a teacher
उपनीर् गुर: भशष्र्ं भशिर्ेि ्शौचमाददि:
आचारं अश्ग्नकार्ं च संध्र्ोपासनमेवच: ॥मनुस्मृति
38. 8-Temples
38
Samhitas by Kashyapa, Maya and Bhrugu and
Arthashastra contains detailed information about
orientation of temples.
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39. Orientation of Temples
Mayamatam (c9.67) specifies the orientation of
face of deities in the temples.
सूर्यपदे सौरं स्र्ादश्ग्नपदे काभलकावेश्म ।
िृशिागे ववष्णुगृहं र्ाम्र्ार्ां षमुंस्थनम ॥ ६७॥
मर्मि 9
40. Orientation of face of deities
Direction Deity Direction Deity
East Sun North-west VishNu
South-east Kaki North Ganesha
South Kartikeya North-east Shiva
South -west VaruN
41. East facing temples
Mayamatam (c9.83) also specifies that temples of
certain east facing deities should be far away
.Such deities are, Chandeshwar, Kuber, Kali,
Putana, Bhairav and Veerabhadra.
चण्डेश्वर: कु मारो धनद: काली च पूिना चैव ।
कालीसुिश्च ंड्गी चैिे दौवाररका: प्रोक्िा:
॥८३॥ मर्मि अ 9
42. Facing directions of deities
As per Vastu Vidya, angry faced deities
(Narsimha) should be towards west. But
smiley faced deities(VishNu) should face
towards east.
उग्रा: पराङमुंा: शस्िा नृणां सौम्र्ास्िु संमुंा: ॥
वास्िुववद्र्ा
43. Manushyalaya Chandrika specifies that,
•The house should not be taller than a temple.
•Before raising the height of a house, the height of
temple should be increased first.
Height of temple
देवागारान्नराणामतिशुिदभमदं ककं धचदूनं समं वा ॥
मनुष्र्ालर्चंदद्रका
44. Suitable sites for Construction of Temples
िीथायिे िदटनीिटे जलतनधेस्िीरे सररत्ससंगमे
शैलाग्रेऽदद्रिटे वनोपवनर्ोरुद्र्ानदेशेऽथवा।
भसध्दाद्र्ार्िनेषु वा गुरुवरग्रामे पुरे पत्तने
वान्र्त्ावप मनोरमे सुरसभमज्जार्े क्षितिं कल्पर्ेि् ॥
भशल्परत्सन
45. •Near a religious site.
•On the bank of river , Tank or near
seashore or a the junction of two rivers,
•On the top of a hill, or in a forest.
•At any place where mind is peaceful.
Suitable site
46. •As per Mayamatam Crematorium should be on
East or North side of a city.
•Crematoriums should be 3 to 4 km away from city.
•Waste disposal land, tanneries should be far away
from water bodies.
47. •Sanitation of body was very important aspect
and described in Gruhyasutras, Neeti sutras
describes the cleanliness of surrounding.
9b- Hygiene
47
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48. 48
चण्डालर्ोभशिस्िाग्रामार्: सीसिूषणा: सवाय:
पूवायन्हे मलमोिकिर्ोधचिा ग्राममावेश्र् ॥९७॥
मर्मि अ ९
As per Mayamatam ( 9.97), the
streets should be cleaned before
sunrise. The women sweepers
should wear ornaments of Lead to
protect themselves from viral
infection.
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49. 49
•PanN =ancient Rupee
•Throwing garbage on road – 1/8 PanN
•Blocking drainage water- ¼ PanN
•Pollution of Highways-1/2 PanN
•Pollution of water body or area near religious place- 2
PanN
•Throwing dead animals on roads-6 PanN
•Cremation of dead bodies at unauthorized place- 50
PanN
Pollution prevention acts in ancient India
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50. Other topics under Town Planning
50
•Ground Examination
•Land acquisition
•Orientation
•Layout
•Primary facilities –water, roads
•Zoning of areas
•Portals
•Government and Religious Buildings
•Places of sacrifice Anand 6/3/2019
51. •Roads used to be parallel to east-West or north-
South directions
•Three types of roads- National highway no 1
,2,3
•City road s (54-100 m), Village roads (36-63 m),
Border roads
•Provision of footpaths on both sides of road
•Surface of road convex.
51Anand 6/3/2019
52. 52
Town classification as per Mayamatam
Name No of Roads
E-W N-S
Damdak 1 1
Prastar 2 3-7
Swastik 3 4
PrakeerN 4 8-12
Nandiwart 5 13 -18
Parag 6 18-22
Padma 7 3-7
Shreepratishtha 8 29-38
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53. Suitable place for Capital
As per ShukraNeeti
•Place full of trees, animals and birds
•Adequate water sources
•Nearness of sea or river
53
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54. Ancient rules for construction of houses
•As per Manasar, height should not more than 12 stories.
•Bruhat samhita specifies the maximum height as 45
meters.
•The minimum clear distance between two adjacent
buildings should ne twice the height of taller building.
55. •There should be a narrow conservancy line in
rear for sewage disposal.
• The front clearance should be one-third the
length of plot. The city of Kashi (Banaras) is the
world’s oldest planned city.
56. 56
Conclusions
1. As ago as 4000B.C. science of Town Planning was well
developed in India. Where as it was established in
other countries after 200 B.C.
2. Indian town planning was based on secularism,
environment protect awareness and mutual
relations.
3. Certain aspects of ancient town planning such as
Protective walls, security gates, moats etc have
become obsolete in modern era.Anand 6/3/2019
57. 57
•Modern building materials such as steel
concrete, have replaced stone lime wood
etc.
•But many ancient principles are still
relevant.
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