Understanding the Vastu shastra: city planning in walled city of Jaipur

This paper examines and takes precedents from the concept and application of Vastu Shastra in the walled city of Jaipur situated in the Rajasthan state of India, planned by architect Vidyadhar in 1700s. The study puts emphasis on the architecture and planning of cities through the context of the Vastu Shastra guidelines while understanding its urban context and further explores the interrelation between those guidelines and sustainability to investigate potential approaches. This is due to an absence in attempting to develop a sustainable urban planning system based on the principles of Vastu Shastra. With the case study of walled city of Jaipur, the paper aims to start a conversation among experts where all these aspects of Vastu Shastra guidelines can be studied in detail, especially to design new infrastructures within the historic cities by applying the knowledge of the historic, architectural, and urban planning philosophies in India.