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Sara KELLERCNRS, UMR 8167, ParisIdentity of Western Indian Sea towns. An urbanistic study case of Bharuch and KhambhatAmongst the pre modern Indian cities, the sea town, because of its particular relationship with the ocean and the beyond located lands, has developed its own identity which demand a specific definition. The paper questions the town planning and sociological characteristics of two major ports of the West Indian coast during the pre Mughal time: the gujarati towns of Bharuch and Khambhat (Cambay). The survey of the surviving historical structures and the study of the topographical and architectural elements define particular urbanistic features, suggesting a broader understanding of the town development, its various activities, and the socio-topographical organization within the city. This information, completed by the knowledge extracted from the traveler’s accounts and other literature, bring essential elements capable of helping us answering the following questions: how did the city cop up with its vital need, such as water, food, and necessary handicraft for the trade? Which activities were undertaken in the city, and what kind of relationship did the city keep with its hinterland? We shall also question the power system prevailing in the sea towns: can an autonomous body be identified in the city, or did some groups or social classes hold a tacit power? Which flavor is taking the cultural activities of the port?This various questions shall finally help us to define whether the sea town can be identify as a city of its land, or whether it has particular characteristics which links it to the sea and the ‘beyond sea’.