DHOLAVIRA

The ancient site Dholavira (Lat. 23° 53’ 10” N., Long. 70° 13’ E.) is located half a way between the range of low hills and the Greater Rann of Kutch. Situated close to the northern border of Kutch in the Khadir Bet, Dholavira is the largest well preserved Harappan city in Gujarat. Dholavira, belonging to the urban phase, represents the easily recognizable face of the Indus civilization. In its sheer size and fabulous architectural remains, Dholavira has few parallels among the Indus cities. This major Harappan city is remarkable for its exquisite planning, aesthetic architecture, amazing water management system, general fortification wall etc. Spread to an overall area of about 100 hectare, the entire city was planned into tripartite divisions: a high citadel (with two sub-divisions; castle and bailey), a middle town, and a lower town, configured like large parallelogram. These three major builtup areas together make an L-shaped design; citadel and middle town are arranged in north-south axis while middle town and lower town along are arranged in east-west axis. One of the salient components of these divisions was protection by massive fortification walls. In addition, there was also a perimeter wall protecting the entire settlement, which alone covered 48.3 hectare ofthe total area. The citadel was the most heavily protected part ofthe city. Built ofstone-slabs with a solid mud-brick core, the wall at its base was 18 meter thick and was provided with large gateways on all the four sides. The elaborately build northern main gate ofthe citadel opened to a large open space, which could have been a stadium or “ceremonial ground”. This gate has chiseled and polished stones and pilasters and beams and brackets, originally sported a large signboard inlayed with 10 enigmatic characters of the Harappan script. Within the city there were a series of well planned rectangular water reservoirs, which was meant to harness the scarcely available water in the region.

The Historical Marvel of Dholavira

 “The Harappans were extremely conscientious towards zealously storing the maximum or rather the entire volume of water that used to flow in the flanking streams after the downpours. For that, they created 16 or more water-reservoirs almost all around within the city walls. A rough estimate works out that approximately 17 hectares, i.e. 36% of the total enwalled area was appropriated alone for the storage of the water harnessed from the streams (seasonal torrents) by the way of raising several dams, which are at least three or four across the Manhar in the south and two or three across the Mansar in the north. In addition, there might have been quite a few inlet channels piercing through the city walls for bringing the surface run-off. There are some rocky outcrops which were efficiently used for damming the series conveniently.

In fact, the builders had started to reduce the velocity of the water-flow further upstream by way of raising a series of dams across them so that the real dams could successfully withstand to hold back the water as well as divert the surplus to the series of reservoirs in the city.” These reservoirs, partially cut into the bedrock and partially built of chiseled stone-slabs in perfectly water proof condition are the high mark of Harappan water harvesting and engineering skill. Equally remarkable and overwhelming are the monumental structures, large concealed network of drains and two square water tanks by the side of a deep circular well on the citadel.

At Dholavira, major craft activities were concentrated in the western bailey — an annexure to the citadel — and middle town in the north. It is quite possible that the south of citadel also may have been used for this purpose. On the other hand, lower town was mainly meant for residential purpose. Excavations at Dholavira has revealed all the essential Classical Harappan artifacts in large numbers, such as steatite seals and terracotta sealings, etched camelian, other semiprecious stones and faience beads, shell bangles, chert blades, terracotta bulls, female figurines and copper objects. Rare human and animal figures carved in stone are also reported from the site. Pottery assemblage at Dholavira shows the entire repertoire of classical Harappan types, forms and decorative patterns. There is also a cemetery area, following true Indus tradition; it is separated from the habitation by at least 300 meters west of the site. Excavations of the cemetery area revealed several interesting disposable practices of the Harappans.

Current Scenario of Tourism at Dholavira

The preservation and propagation of Archaeo-heritage tourism at Dholavira is in full swing. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has put in concentrated efforts by giving special importance to the excavation as well as other related works at the site so as to develop it as a centre of culture, research, education, and environmental development in order to make It international archaeo-heritage destination. Government of Gujarat has extended invaluable cooperation for the same. Significant works done by the concerned authorities of both Archaeological Survey of India and Government of Gujarat are briefed below:

  1. Apart from offering central protection to the site, Archaeological Survey of India acquired 66.60 hectares of state owned land in and around Dholavira, while acquiring of 35.68 hectares of private land is at an advance stage.
  2. Archaeological Survey of India has constructed a beautiful, multiple hall complex in a garden setting. The complex consist of halls for documentation, interpretation and display, a cafeteria, an office, stores and accommodation facilities for camp inmates, visiting scholars and students
  3. Archaeological Survey of India also has a comprehensive program of development of the site at Dholavira (it is still in the pipe line and will take little time to find a way out) by way of conservation, laying of movement paths, audio CD guided tours, fencing and greening. It is also committed to construct museum of international standard, at the site.
  4. Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) has constructed a large tourist complex, conveniently away from the ancient site, facilitated with open-air theatre.
  5. The Department of Tele-communication has set up primary telecommunication facilities at the site.
  6. Government of Gujarat has set up a high power substation at Balasar for upgrading the electric supply to Dholavira and villages which fall in between and also a primary health centre at Dholavira.
  7. Government of Gujarat widened the road from Chitrod to Dholavira and constructed a connecting road between Dholavira and Jam Kunharia across the Rann partially.