TOWN PLANNING IN

ANCIENT INDIA
INTRODUCTION
The term town planning is used to indicate the arrangement of various components
or units of a town.
It includes ways to be adopted for the improvement of the existing towns or for the
extension of towns.
It demands active imagination and understanding of various needs.
The town planning is a science as well as science which consists of collecting,
correlating and analysing the facts about a town.

TOWN PLANNING

Responsible
Well balanced social administration of
Improvement of life
and economic resources and Rational use of land
quality
development environment
protection

SOURCE: TOWN PLANNING, RANGWALA

 PRINCIPLES OF TOWN PLANNING
Economic
justification GREEN BELT
1. Change in Provision of green belt on the periphery of town results in its
FACTORS quantity of limitation of the size.
resources HOUSING
2. Demand for Care should be taken for the accomodation of various
goods and services categories.
No development of slums, if existing then are cleared with
3. Production alternative arrangements.
technique PUBLIC BUILDINGS
4. Redistribution of Well balanced distribution of various public buildings
land values.
RECREATION CENTRES
Enough space should be reserved for the development as
recreation centres for the public
Objects of ROAD SYSTEMS
town Efficiency of a town is measured by the layout of its roads.
1.Beauty
planning TRANSPORT FACILITIES
2.Convenience Town should be provided with suitable transport facilitIes to
minimise the travel.
3.Health
ZONING
4.Environment
Towns should be divided into suitable zones
SOURCE: TOWN PLANNING, RANGWALA
 Chaturmukha

Dandaka Karmuka

Ancient town
classification
by Manasara
Nandyavarta Prastara

Padmaka Swastika

SOURCE: TOWN PLANNING, RANGWALA

DANDAKA
- This type of town plan provides for two main entrance gates and is
generally adopted for the formation of small towns and villages.
- Streets are straight and cross each other at right angles at the center.
- Rectangular / Square.
- Width of street varies from 1-5 danda.
- Village office located in the east.
- Female deity (gramadevata) will generally be located outside the village.
- Male deities in the northern portion.

SOURCE: TOWN PLANNING, RANGWALA ; KAUTILYA THE ARTHSHASTRA BY L.N.RANGARAJAN

SWASTIKA
- This type of plan
contemplates some diagonal
streets dividing the site into
certain triangular plots.
- The site may be of any shape.
- The town is surrounded by a
rampart wall, with a moat at
its foot.
- Two main streets cross each
other at the center running
north to south and west to

east.

SOURCE: TOWN PLANNING, RANGWALA ; KAUTILYA THE ARTHSHASTRA BY L.N.RANGARAJAN

CHATURMUKHA
- This is applicable to all types of towns starting from the largest town to the
smallest village.
- The site may be either square or rectangular having four faces.
- The town is laid out east to west lengthwise with four main streets.
- The temple of the presiding deity is always at the center.

SOURCE: TOWN PLANNING, RANGWALA ; KAUTILYA THE ARTHSHASTRA BY L.N.RANGARAJAN

 PRASTARA
- The characteristic feature of
this plan is that the site may
be either square or
rectangular but not triangular
or circular.
- The sites are set apart or the
very rich, rich, middle class
and poor.
- The size of the site increases
according to the capacity of
each to purchase or build
upon.
- The main roads are much
wider when compared to
those of other patterns.
- The town may or may not be
surrounded by a fort.

SOURCE: TOWN PLANNING, RANGWALA ; KAUTILYA THE ARTHSHASTRA BY L.N.RANGARAJAN

PADMAKA

- This type of plan was

practiced for building of the
towns with fortress all
around.
- Pattern of the plan
resembles petals of lotus
radiating outwards from the
center.
- The city used to be
practically an island
surrounded by water.
- No scope for expansion.
SOURCE: TOWN PLANNING, RANGWALA ; KAUTILYA THE ARTHSHASTRA BY L.N.RANGARAJAN
 NANDYAVARTA
- Mainly used for construction
of towns and not villages.
- Adopted for sites which are
either circular or square in
shape.
- Not less than 3000 houses
but not more than 4000
houses.
- The streets run parallel to
the central adjoining streets.
- Temple of the presiding
deity at the center of the
town.
- this name is derived from a
flower , the form of which is
followed in this layout.

SOURCE: TOWN PLANNING, RANGWALA ; KAUTILYA THE ARTHSHASTRA BY L.N.RANGARAJAN

 KARMUKA
- This plan is suitable for
the place where the site of
the town is in the form of a
bow or semi circular or
parabolic and mostly
applied for towns located
at sea shores or river
banks.
- The main streets of the
town run from north to
south or east to west and
the cross streets run at
right angles to them.
- this divides the whole
area into blocks.
- Female deity (the
presiding deity) is installed
in the temple built in any
convenient place.
SOURCE: TOWN PLANNING, RANGWALA ; KAUTILYA THE ARTHSHASTRA BY L.N.RANGARAJAN