Before you plan a single wall, you must fix the directions of your plot. Vastu Shastra is useless if the compass is wrong: a "northeast corner" placed 45° off can silently turn every later recommendation into a mistake. Identifying North is simple, cheap, and can be done with tools you already own.
What "Plot Direction" Really Means
A plot is usually described by its facing — e.g. "an east-facing plot" means the entrance/main road side of the plot lies to the east. But the actual geometry you need is the orientation of the plot's four corners against a compass. In Vastu, the important thing is that you can label the eight sides and the four corners: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW.
How to Identify North on Your Plot
Method 1 — Phone Compass (fastest)
- Stand in the centre of the plot, away from metal walls and large structures.
- Open the phone's compass app (or a map app in compass mode); hold the phone flat and level.
- Rotate until the red needle points to 0° / N. That direction is your true North.
- Look for landmarks (roads, poles) aligned with the N–S line to transfer it to paper.
Method 2 — Sunrise direction (no tools)
- On a clear morning, the Sun rises approximately in the East.
- Face the sunrise: East is in front of you, West behind, North on your left, South on your right.
- Mark the shadow line at midday — shadows point roughly North in the northern hemisphere (and South below the equator).
Method 3 — Plot map / site plan
- Most site plans mark a North arrow.
- Overlay the plan with Google Maps satellite view (zoom into your plot, note the road direction), then rotate your paper to match true North.
| Method | Accuracy | Needed | Best For |
|---|
| Phone compass | ±2–3° | Smartphone | Quick on-site confirmation |
| Sunrise & shadow | ±5–10° | None | Cross-checking, no tools |
| Map overlay | ±1–2° | Site plan, PC | Planning before visiting the site |
| Compass + survey | ±0.5° | Surveyor compass | Final construction marker |
Compass Tips to Avoid Errors
- Stay clear of metal: vehicles, rods, fences, and steel lintels pull magnetic needles — step 10 ft (3 m) away.
- Don't hold keys or phones with magnetic cases while taking the reading.
- Read the compass twice from two different points — errors show up as disagreement.
- Distinguish magnetic North (compass) from true North (map); the small local declination rarely matters for room planning.
- Mark all 8 directions on the plot when planning — corners (NE, SE, SW, NW) matter as much as the cardinal sides.
What to Do With Your Directions
- Use the 8 Directions Guide to see which rooms belong where.
- Check your main door facing and whether it matches your plot's facing.
- Verify that the centre (Brahmasthan) stays open.
- If the plot is irregular, give extra care to the NE corner — a missing NE or an over-extended SW affects the whole plan. Study the 16 Zones Guide for fine-level detail.
Once your directions are firm, the rest is straightforward: plan the kitchen, bedrooms, and pooja room against the proper zones. You can feed your plotted directions straight into Analyze My House, or start drawing a correctly oriented plan with Create House Plan.
Once you know the facing, read the south facing or west facing house guide.
Based on traditional Vastu principles. Not scientifically proven.