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Unesco World Heritage Website– Dholavira Our journey began from Narayan Sarovar, on the western edge of India, driving towards Dholavira through the fascinating Kadhiya Dhroh canyon. By late evening, we reached the well-known 31 km roadway, often called the”roadway to heaven,”which links Khadir Bet Island to the mainland. Dholavira is uniquely located on an island surrounded by the beautiful white stretch of the Rann of Kutch. The next morning, we walked from our turn to the Dholavira heritage site. The broad, empty roadways showed a lean traveler season, making the walk peaceful and pleasurable. The website opens at dawn, and we showed up just as the sun appeared. The guards were still preparing to open, the museum was closed and no guides were available early in the morning. Undeterred, we simply went into and immersed ourselves in the picture paperwork lining the walkway.
What is Dholavira?
Dholavira is a UNESCO World Heritage Website situated on the Tropic of Cancer. It is the sixth biggest Indus Valley website on the Indian subcontinent and the 2nd largest in India, after Rakhigarhi. Officially found by Jagatpati Joshi in 1967-68 following its regional discovery, excavations continued up until 2005. The website is named after a nearby village.
Archaeologists reveal that Dholavira was a well-planned city populated for at least 1,500 years. Located in between two seasonal rivers, Mansar and Manhar, it boasts a citadel-like structure and sophisticated water management systems. Evidence recommends it was a production and trading center with significant industrial links, specifically with West Asia.
Architecture
Covering 54 acres, Dholavira’s layout forms a parallelogram trapped in between the Mansar River to the north and the Manhar River to the south. The website is divided into three primary parts– the Citadel that further divides into the castle and bailey, the middle town, and the lower town. Fortification most likely began around 3000 BCE, with the city fully developed by around 2600 BCE. Both the Citadel and middle town are strengthened, while the lower town remains open. A ritualistic ground separates the castle from the middle town. Archaeologists discovered 17 gates, of these the northern and eastern gates being the most fancy, perhaps utilized for events. A burial ground with rock-cut chambers lies southwest of the town, though no skeletal remains have been discovered there.
Increasing above the ground with tank in front To a visitor, the very first striking feature is the imposing castle rising above ground level. Standing before the east entrance at daybreak, it advised me of the Borobudur Temple in Indonesia, a website I had likewise gone to early in the early morning. The citadel has major four gates aligned with the cardinal directions. The northern gate once included a massive wood door and a large signboard with 10 letters– possibly the earliest known signboard worldwide. Although the script stays undeciphered, some scholars think interpretations are possible. 
Dholavira North Gate Sign Board recreated at a resort We entered through this north gate; the signboard is now maintained in a museum. Eviction passageway is flanked by chambers likely occupied by guards. A staircase, presently a momentary wood structure for visitors’ security, causes the leading where the complete website shows up against the sky. Initially, the stone formations appear random, however the southeastern area, the greatest mound, was the castle. Nevertheless, in time, the distinction between this and other locations has blurred.
Connection of Civilization
What captivated me most were the circular foundations bearing a striking similarity to the standard Bhoonga huts of Kutch. This earthquake-resistant style might reveal a link in between the ancient Indus occupants and current locals. Some foundations include a small central pole-like stone, recommending they were utilized for oil extraction with animals like bulls– a Kolhu in Hindi.
Bhoonga design circular real estate The east gate most likely led directly to the castle, with limestone pillars quarried 2-3 km away still noticeable. Throughout Indus websites, spaces tend to be especially small, leading me to question whether they acted as residences or storage spaces for trading items. Adjacent to the west gate lies a bead factory, which might have worked as an administrative or industrial office. The western castle location, called Bailey or Upa-Prasad in Hindi, was most likely home to the non-royal elite. Close-by stand four square granaries. Water Management at Dholavira
Dholavira’s a lot of impressive function is its innovative hydraulic engineering. Placed in between the seasonal Mansar and Manhar rivers, archaeologists revealed numerous check dams used to transport water to big reservoirs by means of stone-carved waterways. Such dams are special to Dholavira among Indus Valley sites.
On top of the Website– A pillar, A Stepwell and a Well As you go into, a massive water tank with staircases coming down 30 steps at 3 corners stands out. The tank includes rock-cut wells and stone actions, possibly the earliest models of stepwells like Rani Ki Vav. Nearby, a unicorn figurine suggests the tank’s ritualistic value to the people. Atop the site are two large stepwells and a round well, the latter measuring 4 meters in size– possibly the biggest well discovered in Indus Valley sites. Rope marks on a stone slab indicate usage of a pulley system to draw water. 
Connected water tanks at Dholavira Many fascinating are the southern water management tanks– a sequence of five interconnected reservoirs for storing and filtering water. The first 2 tanks handle desilting, the main third tank is three times bigger than the Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro, and the 4th tank features a ramp for wheeled carriage gain access to reminiscent of Surajkund. The fifth tank channels water to western tanks. These tanks are excavated on rocky plateau beds and topped with brick and masonry embankments.
Think of a city surrounded by water, expertly recording river circulations and rain to maintain ample supply year-round. Archaeologists discivered at least 16 water tanks, underscoring the ancient proverb, “Jal hi Jeevan hai”– water is life.
Excavations and Artifacts
Excavations at Dholavira uncovered ceramics, beads, pillar pieces, shell objects, semi-precious stones, copper items, seals, terracotta unicorn figurines, stone bracelets, gold, fishhooks, copper ingots, containers, and pottery. Numerous items point to strong trade links with West Asia.
Dancing Woman, Pottery and the Eastern Gate of Dholavira Checking out Dholavira resembles entering a vibrant chapter of history that continues to teach us important lessons.
Travel Tips for Dholavira
- Assign about 2 hours to check out the site completely.
- Entry is complimentary, and the site opens from sunrise to sunset. Morning visits use the very best lighting and a comfortable climate for photography.
- Guides are available but not in early morning hours.
- The museum is closed on Fridays, so plan accordingly.
- Numerous resorts surround Dholavira, using appealing rates throughout lean seasons however greater rates during the Kutch festival.
