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Division of the Empire
- The empire was divided into several provinces.
- The actual number of such provinces is not known.
- Each province was divided into Bhuktis.
- And each Bhukti was divided into several Vishayas.
- They were like the districts.
- Each vishaya was further divided into Pathakas.
- Each such area was divided into several villages for the sake of administrative convenience.
- Harsha Charita refers to a number of officials who took care of the local administration.
- Only their titles are known.
- What they did isn’t available in Harsha Charita.
- We learn that bhogapathi, ayuktha, pratpalaka-purusha and the like looked after the local administration.
Cities and Towns
- Hieun Tsang describes the structure, aesthetics and safety measures of the cities, towns and villages of India.
- In his view, India was the land of innumerable villages, numerous towns and big cities like China.
- He pointed out that Pataliputra lost its prominence and its place was taken by Kanauj.
- The elegance of Kanauj with its lofty structures, beautiful gardens and the museum of rare collections is described.
- The refined appearance of its residents, their costly dressings and love for learning and art are also pointed out in his account.
- Most of the towns, according to Hieun Tsang, had outer walls and inner gates.
- Though the walls were wide and high, the streets and lanes were narrow.
- Residential houses had balconies made of wood and coated with lime mortar.
- Floors were smeared with cow dung for the purpose of purity and hygiene.
- Big mansions, public buildings and Buddhist monasteries and viharas were magnificent multi-storeyed structures.
- They were built of kiln-fired bricks, red sandstone and marble.
- Harsha constructed a large number of viharas, monasteries and stupas on the bank of the Ganges.
- Harsha built charitable institutions for the stay of the travellers, and to care for the sick and the poor.
- Free hospitals and rest houses (dharmasalas) in all the towns were constructed where the travellers or the outsiders could stay.
- Hospitals were built to provide medical treatment free of charge.