community patterns
prominent roads
The highest point in the settlement is marked by a fort situated at its peak. This settlement radiates outwards, with the fort as the centre. The fort precinct now houses a temple tower and its ancillary functions amidst ruins of the old fort.
There are currently about 3000 houses in Pangna where communities are organised and segregated on caste lines.
Brahmans (Sharmas) and the Kshatriyas (Guptas) make up the upper castes and occupy the areas immediately adjacent to the fort temple. Tarkhans, Doms, Kolis, Lohars, Chandals and Chamar communities are considered as lower castes and live further away from the centre. The Kolis are next in the hierarchy and occupy the space just behind the temple on a much steeper terrain. The Chamar community lives almost a kilometre away in a self-contained cluster.
As most stories of conquest go, the king drove the local tribes who inhabited the land away. This was the koli community which now came to occupy the more difficult terrain adjoining the settlement. They were employed in the more menial jobs of the kingdom whereas the brahmins became the priests and the kshatriyas the traders supporting the kingdom. The brahmins and kshatriyas settled close to the temple. The ironsmith or lohar also had an important position as he would be required to provide shoes to the king’s horses. His house was located midlevel from the fort connected to a small road where the horses would ply. Another important house was the teli’s or the oil presser’s which was located just behind the palace. The cobblers or the chamars were the lowest community and were housed in a settlement further away from the main settlement.
new market street elevation
