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Dholavira

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Dholavira, an ancient metropolitan city, and locally known as Kotada Timba Prachin Mahanagar Dholavira, is one of the largest and most prominent archaeological sites in India, belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. It is located on the Khadir island in the Kutch district of Gujarat, which is surrounded by water in the monsoon season. The site was occupied from about 2900 BCE for about a millennium, declining slowly after about 2100 BCE, briefly abandoned and then reoccupied, finally by villagers among its ruins, until about 1450.

Excavation

The ancient site at Dholavira (23°53′N 70°13′E / 23.88°N 70.22°E / 23.88; 70.22), is flanked by two storm water channels; the Mansar in the north, and the Manhar in the south. The site, discovered in 1960s, is the fifth largest Harappan site in the Indian subcontinent, and has been under excavation almost continuously sunce 1990 by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Six such urban centers have been discovered: Harappa, Mohenjo Daro, Ganeriwala in Pakistan, and Rakhigarhi, Dholavira and Lothal in India.

The excavations of the site were initiated in 1989 by the Archaeological Survey of India under the direction of Dr. R. S. Bisht. The excavation brought to light the sophisticated urban planning and architecture, and unearthed large numbers of antiquities such as seals, beads, animal bones, gold, silver, terracotta ornaments and vessels linked to Mesopotamia. Archaeologists believe that Dholavira was an important centre of trade between settlements in south Gujarat, Sindh and Punjab and Western Asia.

City

Estimated to be older than the port-city of Lothal, the city of Dholavira has a rectangular shape and organization, and is spread over 100 hectares. The area measures 771.10 metres in length, and 616.85 metres in width. Like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro (Pakistan), the city is composed to a pre-existing geometrical plan, of three divisions - the citadel, the middle town and the lower town. The acropolis and the middle town had been further furnished with their own defence-work, gateways, built-up areas, street system, wells and large open spaces. The acropolis is the most carefully guarded as well as impressive and imposing complex in the city of which it appropriates the major portion of the southwestern zone. The towering "castle" stands majestically in fair insulation and defended by double ramparts. The city within the general fortification accounts for 48 hectares. There are extensive structure-bearing areas though outside yet intimately integral to the fortified settlement. Beyond the walls, yet another settlement has been found.

Temple

There is nothing resembling a temple structure.

Reservoirs

 
Dholavira Sophisticated Water Reservoir

One of the unique features of Dholavira is the sophisticated water conservation system of channels and reservoirs, the earliest found anywhere in the world, and of which three are exposed. They were used for storing the fresh water brought by rains or to store the water diverted from a nearby rivulet. This probably came in wake of the desert climate and conditions of Kutch, where several years may pass without rainfall.

Burial system

The variety of burial styles suggests a diverse population. A "signboard" inlaid with large symbols in the untranslated Indus script was discovered near one of the entrances to the citadel.

Historical sign board

One of the most significant discoveries at Dholavira was made in one of the side rooms of the northern gateway of the city. The Harappans had arranged and set pieces of gypsum (a kind of mineral) to form ten large letters on a big wooden board. At some point of time the board fell down flat on its face. The wood decayed, but the arrangement of the letters survived. It is still not known what the sign says as the system of writing or script of the Harappans has not yet been deciphered.

Language and calligraphy

File:Triseal.jpg
Indus Valley Seals. The first one shows a Swastika, a prominent symbol in Hinduism.

It is not known for sure what language the Harappan people spoke, and their script cannot yet be read. Still, a few things are known about their system of writing. The Harappan script seems to have had about 400 basic signs, with many variations. The signs probably stood both for words and for syllables. The direction of the writing was generally from right to left. Most of the inscriptions are found on seals (mostly made out of stone) and sealings (pieces of clay on which the seal was pressed down to leave its impression). Some inscriptions are also found on copper tablets, bronze implements, and small objects made of terracotta, stone and faience. The seals were probably used in trade and also for official administrative work. So the Harappans seem to have used writing mainly for these sorts of things. A lot of the inscribed material was found at Mohenjo Daro.

How to reach Dholavira

  • By Air - Nearest airport Bhuj, Kutch District, Gujarat, India. Approximately 300 km away. Connected by flights from Mumbai.
  • By Rail - Samakhyali (160 km) on the Palanpur-Gandhidham BG line.
  • By Road - from Ahmedabad

Road are good till Rapar town; from there the road to Dholavira is two lanes. The best time to visit is November to March.


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