Explanation:

On the basis of geometrical shape and forms, rural settlements are classified as:

• Linear pattern: In such settlements houses are located along a road, railway line, river, canal edge of a valley or along a levee.
• Rectangular pattern: Such patterns of rural settlements are found in plain areas or wide inter montane valleys. The roads are rectangular and cut each other at right angles.
• Circular pattern: Circular villages develop around lakes, tanks etc.
• Star like pattern: Where several roads converge, star shaped settlements develop by the houses built along the roads
• T-shaped, Y-shaped, Cross-shaped or cruciform settlements: T-shaped settlements develop at trijunctions of the roads while Y-shaped settlements emerge at the places where two roads converge on the third one and houses are built along roads. Cruciform settlements develop on the cross-roads and houses extend in four direction.
• Double village: These settlements extend on both sides of a river where there is a bridge or a ferry.