DHOLAVIRA
- ART & CULTURE
News:
In Frames | Where a road
is the destination
What's
in the news?
●
The 31.9 km-long Khavda-Khadir road to
reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Dholavira, a Harappan city situated on
the island of Khadir, opened for tourists in 2023.
Dholavira:
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It is an archaeological site of immense
importance associated with the Indus
Valley Civilization.
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It represents the ruins of an ancient city
of the Harappan civilization that was inhabited over a period of 1,200 years
from 3000 BCE through 1800 BCE.
Location:
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The site is located near the village of
Dholavira, in the Kutch District of the Indian state of Gujarat.
Uniqueness:
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Dholavira is the fifth largest site of the Indus Valley Civilization in the
sub-continent.
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It lies between two seasonal streams, the Mansar in the north and Manhar in the south.
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It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.
Features:
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It comprises two parts - a walled city and a cemetery to the west of the city.
○
The walled city consists of a fortified
Castle with attached fortified Bailey and Ceremonial Ground, and a fortified
MiddleTown and a Lower Town.
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The archaeological remains of the city of
Dholavira include fortifications,
gateways, water reservoirs, ceremonial ground, residential units, workshop
areas, and cemetery complex, all clearly representing the Harappan culture
and its various manifestations.
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A series of reservoirs are found to the
east and south of the Citadel.
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The water system of Dholavira was very
well planned with 16 reservoirs and
water channels that stored water or diverted water from nearby rivulets.
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Step
wells leading to large public baths have also been
discovered here.