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Town Planning in Ancient India

Introduction

Here we will explore the principles of town planning in ancient India, drawing from various Vastu-shastra texts. Let us discuss the classification of towns and villages, different design layouts, road networks, and the importance of assembly halls in urban planning.

Village as the Basic Unit

In ancient Indian town planning, the village was considered the basic unit of analysis. Kautilya's Arthashastra provides a hierarchical system for categorizing settlements based on location, function, and population. For example, a Dronamukha consisted of 400 to 600 villages, while a Sthaniya comprised over 800 villages.

Classification of Towns

The classification of villages and towns in ancient India considered factors such as area, location, street plan, types of residences, protective moats, temples, and social composition. Narada Shilpashastra describes 14 types of towns, including:

Rajdhani (capital city): The primary abode of the king, with an assembly hall (sabha) at its center.
Pattana, Dronamukha, Durga (fortified town), Sthaniya, Shakhanagara (subsidiary town), Karvatika, Kheta (labor class town), Nigama (artisan market town), Grama (smaller than Nigama), and Matha or Vihara (residential university or village).

Town Designs

Manasara, a Vastu-shastra text, outlines eight town planning designs, including:

Dandaka: Featuring parallel streets intersecting at right angles, suitable for priests, sages, and intellectuals, with 12 to 3,000 houses.
Nandyavarta: With one to five carriage roads and surrounding streets, internal roads with one footpath, and outer roads with two footpaths, shaped as a square or oblong.
Sarvatobhadra: Designed for safety and security, suitable for areas with potential challenges and complexities, exemplified by Chandigarh's design.
Padmaka, Svastika, Prastara, Karmukha (bow-shaped, suitable for coastal areas, like Poompuhar and Kaveripattinam), Chaturmukha.

Road Network

Ancient India had a well-developed road network. Vishnu Purana mentions separate roads for vehicles, avenues, and pedestrians. Samarangana Sutradhara prescribes 34 roads in a model town, running east-west and north-south. Different types of roads with specific measurements are mentioned, such as Rajamarga (for kings and authorities), Maharathya, Yanamarga, and Janghapatha (footpaths).

Assembly Halls

Assembly halls (sabha) were essential components of towns and cities, serving as public spaces for various events. Samarangana Sutradhara proposes eight designs for Sabha construction, differing in their entrance halls, pillars, and porches. Mayamatam describes nine types of Sabha, detailing their dimensions and pillar arrangements. Vastu texts also provide details on pavilions (mandapa), public utilities like theaters, art galleries, and law courts.

Conclusion

Town planning in ancient India was a sophisticated practice guided by Vastu-shastra principles. The classification of settlements, design layouts, road networks, and assembly halls all played a crucial role in creating functional and harmonious urban spaces.