Hindu Administrative Institutions c12.s6.2

c12.s6.2

It is interesting to read from the *Kauṭalīya* that the municipal administration was carried on on systematic lines. The choice of the capital and its site were indeed important. Topographical and geographical factors were taken into consideration for fixing the site. According to Sukra it must be a place to which communication with the sea was an important factor. The houses were well built and it would appear that cities were garden-cities in ancient India. The gardens were situated on one side of the houses. There is testimony again in the *Arthaśāstra* to the knowledge of the science of horticulture.¹ Through the towns and around them ran roads well-paved and strong in all quarters. Royal roads were interspersed throughout, with innumerable foot-paths.² Kauṭalya recommends the planting of medicinal herbs and fruit trees along these roads.³ Besides grand trunk roads led to the north as far as the Himalayas and to the west and to the south.⁴