THIS ESSAY IS a historical report on the Indian town planning studies of Sir Patrick Geddes. Geddes was a professor of botany at University College, Dundee in Scotland, but he is perhaps better known for his contribution to the developing art and science of modern town planning. Except for two brief returns to Europe, Geddes was in India from 1914 to 1924 and completed more than 50 town planning reports at the request of Indian rulers of princely states and municipal councils. His particular sensitivity to cultural factors makes him almost unique in the history of town planning. Geddes' activities in India reflect the type of work that applied anthropologists have always sought to accomplish. Geddes was in a position to implement his ideas and thus there is much to be gained from examining his approach.