[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Architecture and art](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art) › [Town Planning in Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925) › c18.5 # Town Planning in Ancient India c18.5 Town Planning in Ancient India c18.5 - **Language:** English ### [c18.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c18.5) The description of a skandhāvāra given in the Kāmandakīya Nītisāra is more minute :- “Having approached the vicinity of the enemy’s fort, after fully reconnoitring the locality and the ground by experienced scouts, military quarters should be pitched by persons who are adepts in the art. The encampment should be quadrangular in shape, equipped with four gates, should have not very wide lanes but must possess large streets and massive walls with a girdle of a broad trench. The residence (āgāra ; encampment ?) may be shaped like a square (cross-way), a semi-circle, a circle, or a rectangle (dīrgha) according as the nature of the locality permits. Spacious lodges should be symmetrically set up there separate from each other. The rooms should be well protected. All should be surrounded by a cloistered (? paṭākārai) boulevard. In the centre should be erected the royal palace charming to look at, the quarters of the premier standing hard by, and the treasury being located within the compound of the royal mansions. In the vicinity and in all directions should be quartered, in order of rank and position, the principal officials of the crown, the various trade-guilds, the loyal citizens, the twelve divisions of forces experienced in forest-fight. At the extremities should lie in a circle the butchers, the fowlers and other classes of low, abject occupations whose fidelity has been bought off with ample remunerations.”¹ It is to be noted here that this description of the camp comprises all the salient features of a town. - [Previous: c18.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c18.4) - [Next: c18.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c18.6) - [Up: c18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c18) ## Linked texts (1) - [Kāmandakīya Nītisāra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kamandaka_nitisara) — Kāmandaki, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c18.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c18.5) · Pramāṇa