Page 6 - apr-Jun 2020

DHOLAVIRA – A HARAPPAN CITY!
Harappan Story The city of Dholavira, located in Khadir Island of the

Rann of Kutch, was declared a World Heritage Site as
ARCHITECTURAL RUINS “it demonstrates the ingenuity of Harappan people
to evolve a highly organised system of town planning
The Indus Valley Civilization is an ancient civilization
with perfected proportions”. (UNESCO)
of the Indian subcontinent during the Bronze Age (c.
3300 – c. 1300 BCE). It is also known as the Harappan GREAT BATH
Civilization, as that was the fi rst site to be excavated.
It was discovered in 1826 and the excavation work was This was an essential structure in this civilization. It was
the earliest public water tank
started by the Archaeological Survey of India under the
British. Cities like Harappa and Mohenjodaro have been in history. It is
believed that it
divided into Upper and Lower areas. Some families lived
in clusters of houses, with their own personal facilities, was used for ritual
bathing.
instead of using communal ones.

STREETS HOUSES
Houses had one to two fl oors. All KITCHEN
Streets intersected at 90
the rooms had privacy. There was
degree angles. The town had Certain sections were
no view of the interiors from the
a neat grid-like layout with used for cooking.
main street.
buildings facing cardinal These spaces had brick
directions. furnaces.

OUTER WALL DRAINS
This wall was
Drains had removable
constructed as
a defensive wall covers to clean them.
Drains from all the
around the town.
houses were connected
to the main drain.

EMBANKMENT COURTYARD WELL

These were constructed on the All rooms were Each house had a
outer side of the outer walls for centred on the room on the outside,
fl ood prevention. courtyard. which had a well for
public use.

ACTIVITY: BRAINS ACTIVITY: TRICK OF a BRICK DID YOU KNOW?
BEHIND THE DRAINS! The Harappan brick was made of fi red clay Over the years, newer

(terracotta). They were bound with clay, lime, and
Do you think a government body drains were built, which
existed in this civilization, which gypsum. The Great Bath was bound with bitumen caused the entire street
for water proofi ng. Use the following words to level to rise. Therefore,
took care of issues of building
construction and sanitation? Have write about a regular day in this civilization. regularly, the ground
fl oor of buildings had to
Baked brick Great Bath
a class discussion on the policies Kiln be covered to raise
for Harappan cities and their civic 4:2:1 the road levels.
amenities. Compare it with cities Plumb line Drain Water proofi ng
today.

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