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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 11
Publication Date: November 25, 2021
DOI:10.14738/assrj.811.11145. Binda, V., & Chharang, S. (2021). Study of Settlement Pattern of Dungarpur District of Rajasthan. Advances in Social Sciences
Research Journal, 8(11). 62-69.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Study of Settlement Pattern of Dungarpur District of Rajasthan
Dr. Varun Binda
Assistant Professor, National Defence Academy
Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India, Pune
Dr. Santosh Chharang
Research Scholar (UGC- PDF), Department of Geography
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur
ABSTRACT
The settlement indicates the spatial pattern of the human's functional activities at
the local level, including residence, street structure, community areas, etc.
Settlements represent one of the most dominant features made by men on the earth
in the process of habitation. In the genetic term, settlements are the almost
permanent abode of an organism. They represent "An organized colony of human
beings together with the buildings, paths, and streets over which they travel." The
settlement pattern is also an essential aspect of settlement geography for research.
Within a particular region, different types of settlement patterns were found. The
settlement pattern is controlled by various socio-economic, climatic, and different
factors. In this research, the authors attempt to highlight the various settlements'
patterns, sizes, and responsible factors.
Keywords: - Human settlements, Size, Pattern, Dungarpur district.
INTRODUCTION
The systematic study of settlement patterns in a region represents the long history of its
cultural development of habitation. Thus the geographical study of human habitat involves both
the external and internal form of the habitation. House and street being the occupancy unit's
chief elements, become the focal point of the study. The external form of the occupancy units
is related to various locational factors, transport linkages, etc. It reflects the form of settlement
as one unit concerning its surroundings. The internal arrangement of the habitat depends on
the community. It reflects the architectural styles of the time and culture of its occupants.
Gradual modifications in both external and internal forms of the settlements occur with the
socio-cultural and technological advancement in the area.
The history of human habitation in Dungarpur lies in obscurity. Tradition and legends suffice
that a few settlements existed along the Mahi river during ancient days. But the district has
practically nothing to offer to the archaeologist before the advent of Parmar Rulers in about
10th to 20th century A.D." It is because earlier monuments have not survived the ravages of
rime and decayed. The then rulers established the most important early settlements either for
then-administrative convenience or defence strategy with the temple as the landmark. But due
to a lack of proper regional inter-linkages with other parts and sound economic base, these
places either were mined or remained more or less stagnant in growth. Early settlements were
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Binda, V., & Chharang, S. (2021). Study of Settlement Pattern of Dungarpur District of Rajasthan. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal,
8(11). 62-69.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.811.11145
located at the foothills, along streams, and rivulets due to drinking water availability. The
practice of shifting cultivation also did not encourage consolidated human occupancy.
The last quarter of the 19th century showed individual plots/fields and habitat sites. It
restricted the movement of people from one place to another. With the establishment of an
administrative network at district, tehsil, and taluk levels and police stations at regular
intervals to take care of the security, the people started settling at places where they felt
sufficient resources. The facilities were further provided in the post-independence period, and
today, the district has a network of settlement patterns of different sizes and people. The
development of roads, electricity, water supply system, and the establishment of marketing,
educational, medical, and other social amenities have accelerated settlement development in
the district.
Objective
1) It attempts to highlight the factors affecting the pattern of settlement.
2) The study intends to assess the existing pattern of the settlements.
Hypothesis
1) Various factors are mainly responsible for the development of different types of patterns of
settlements.
2) Within a specific area, the pattern of settlements is not always uniform.
3) Regional development depends on settlements pattern.
The Study Area
Dungarpur district is situated in the extreme southern part of Rajasthan. It covers an area of
3780 sq. Km. Dungarpur is predominantly rural, as more than 92.70 percent of the population
lives in villages. The total population is 13.89 lacs, and population density is 179 as per the
district's 2011 census. Climatically, the district may be classified under sub-humid to dry sub- humid. The area of Dungarpur district is characterized by elongated Aravali hills and an
undulating flat-topped Deccan trap.
Settlement Size
The district's total population resides in 858 settlements, which consists of only two towns,
namely Dungarpur and Sagwara, which have been the seats of two principalities of the
respective states. Table and Figure number 1 shows the distribution of settlements according
to their size.
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 8, Issue 11, November-2021
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Table 1: Settlement Size Distribution
S.No. Tehsil Percentage of settlements according to population size Total
< 500 500 - 1000 1000-2000 > 2000
1. Dungarpur 79
28.11%
90
32.04%
77
27.40%
35
12.45%
281
100%
2. Aspur 34
23.28%
44
30.13%
41
28.10%
27
18.49%
146
100%
3. Sagwara 51
24.75%
70
33.98%
48
23.30%
37
17.97%
206
100%
4. Simalwara 85
37.77%
59
26.22%
50
22.24%
31
13.77%
225
100%
Total 249
29.02%
263
30.65%
216
25.17%
130
15.16%
858
100%
Source: Calculated by the Authors