This is a critical study of the traditional and indigenous system of medicine known as Ayurveda. It is concerned with the fundamentals of Ayurveda, especially the Ayurvedic literature—Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, concept of health and disease, practice of Ayurveda through the ages and its prevalence and relevance today. It dwells on the urban infrastructure in Ayurveda today, that is, the health care facilities and services in dispensaries, health centres and hospitals. It provides a detailed scrutiny of the validity of the system, its treatment process, scope of treatment and level of development. It evaluates the impact of modernity on the Ayurveda system and the state policy vis-à-vis Ayurveda.