Plot Selection Vastu: Shapes, Slopes and Roads

Plot selection is important because the land is the foundation of everything built on it, and many of its features cannot be changed later. Walls can be rearranged in design, but the shape, slope and surroundings of the plot stay.

In Vastu the land is called भूमि (Bhoomi), and examining it before purchase is a long-standing tradition. Whether you are buying a bungalow plot near Mumbai, farmland for a weekend home or industrial land, a careful check saves years of adjustment.

Square and rectangular plots are considered the most favourable, as they promote balance and allow a regular building layout. Rectangular plots with a length-to-width ratio that is not too elongated are usually preferred.

Irregular shapes are more challenging, but many can still be used with careful planning.

The plot should ideally slope gently from the South and West towards the North and East. In other words, the South-West is the highest point and the North-East the lowest.

This supports morning light, allows rainwater to drain towards the North-East, and keeps the stable Earth zone raised. Where the natural slope runs the other way, levelling during construction or raising the South-West with landscaping can help.

Roads around a plot indicate where movement and access enter, so their direction influences the plot's character. Roads on the North or East are generally considered favourable, and plots with roads on two or more sides are assessed carefully.

Water sources such as borewells, wells and sumps are ideally in the North-East, North or East of the plot. The North-East is linked with the Water element, so underground water there is considered supportive.

Avoid borewells, septic tanks or water bodies in the South-West. Overhead tanks, which are heavy, suit the South-West or West. A natural pond, lake or river to the North or East of the land is usually seen as a positive sign.

Check the surroundings for anything that crowds, shadows or disturbs the plot. A short walk around the neighbourhood tells you a great deal.

If you have already bought an imperfect plot, careful design and non-structural remedies can balance most issues. Build the structure as a regular shape within the plot, keep more open space in the North and East, and place heavier construction towards the South and West.

Remedies such as activated pyramids, metal strips along boundaries, planting tall trees in the South-West and a Bhoomi Pujan before construction are commonly used to support the land.

Consult a Vastu expert before signing a purchase agreement, ideally while you are still comparing options. Measuring the plot with a compass and walking the surroundings reveals details no brochure shows.

Dr. Kimaya Parikh-Ambekar of VastuKimaya offers plot and site selection consultations on-site around Mumbai from her Andheri East office, and distant assessments using survey plans, maps and photographs for land further away.