Indus Valley Civilization was one of the
world's early civilizations. It is also known as Harappan Civilization. The
two major important cities where civilizations flourished include
Lothal
Lothal is the name of an ancient mound situated in the revenue jurisdiction
of Saragwala village in Dholka Taluka of Ahmedabad district. The word
'Lothal' meaning 'place of the dead' in Gujarati language is said to have
been formed by combining the words Loth and Thal (sthal). Lothal is
essentially a single culture site. The Harappan culture in all its various
forms is well represented here.
The Harappans were attracted to the Lothal not only by its sheltered harbor
with a rich cotton and rise growing hinterland by also by its bead making
industry. The Indus dichotomy of dividing a city into a citadel or Acropolis
and a lower town was followed in planning Lothal. The ruler and his
entourage lived in the acropolis where houses were built on 3m high platform
and provided with all the civic amenities including paved baths, underground
drains and a well for potable water.
The lower town, which also enjoyed civic amenities, was subdivided into two
sectors. The North-South Arterial Street flanked by shop was the main
commercial center in which the rich merchants and ordinary craftsmen lived
together. The residential sector lay to the east and west of bazaar.
How to reach
Situated at a distance of 6 kms from Lothal-Bhurkhi railway station. It is
well connected by road with Bhurkhi, Dholka and other major towns like
Bhavnagar and Rajkot.
Dholavira
Of all the Harappan sites the site of Dholavira locally known as Kotada, in
the Khadir Island of Kutch stands apart. It is remarkable for its
magnificent planning and enormity of area and deposit. Spread across an area
of 600m, the site presents a Harappan city par excellence. On the present
showing, it is one of the two largest settlements in India and the fourth or
fifth in the subcontinent. It also enjoys the unique distinction of yielding
an inscription of ten large-sized signs of the Harappan script.
Considerable pre-planning seems to have gone into the layout and
construction of the Acropolis. The embattled 'middle town' admeasures about
350m east-west and 180 to 200. North-south and rises to a height of 8.60m
from the general ground level. The built-up area of the 'lower town'
occupies nearly 2/3 part of the eastern half of the fortified city. It
measures 300m east-west and 350m. north-south approximately attaining the
height of 7,50m. Like the 'middle town' this too reveals a constructed area
having several built-up projections and open recesses at least on the
north-east and south.
How to reach
It is a small village located near the north-western extremity of Khadir.
It is approachable from Bhuj via Rappar by a good road.
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