Recently, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated the Harappan city of Dholavira in Gujarat as India’s 40th world heritage site. This makes it the first site of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) in India to achieve this prestigious status. The nomination places India in the Super-40 club for World Heritage Site inscriptions, a group which includes Italy, Spain, Germany, China, and France. Overall, India boasts 40 world heritage sites; 32 cultural, 7 natural, and one mixed property.
Following the Ramappa Temple (Telangana), which was India’s 39th World Heritage Site, Dholavira’s inclusion further underscores the rich cultural heritage of the subcontinent.
History and Archaeological Significance of Dholavira
Dholavira, discovered in 1968 by archaeologist Jagat Pati Joshi, is one of the most remarkable and well-preserved urban settlements in South Asia. It ranks as the fifth-largest metropolis of the IVC after Mohen-jo-Daro, Ganweriwala, and Harappa in Pakistan, and Rakhigarhi in India’s Haryana.
The IVC flourished around 2500 BC in the western part of South Asia, encompassing present-day Pakistan and Western India. Renowned for its urban civilization, its inhabitants lived in well-built, well-planned towns that also functioned as trade hubs.
What remains of Dholavira today are ruins divided into a walled city and a cemetery, the former comprising a fortified Castle with an attached fortified Bailey and Ceremonial Ground. East and South of the Citadel lie a series of ancient reservoirs.
Location and Strategic Importance of Dholavira
Located on Khadir Bet island in the Kachchh Desert Wildlife Sanctuary within the Great Rann of Kachchh region, the ancient city of Dholavira stands as a testament to the strategic planning of the IVC. Unlike other Harappan towns usually situated near rivers or perennial water sources, Dholavira’s location enabled it to access various mineral and raw material sources such as copper, shell, agate-carnelian, steatite, among others.
This strategic placement promoted internal and external trading activities, with trade routes extending as far as the Magan (modern Oman peninsula) and Mesopotamian regions.
Archaeological Discoveries at Dholavira
Archaeologist unearthed numerous valuable artifacts from Dholavira. These include terracotta pottery, gold and copper ornaments, beads, fish hooks, animal figurines, tools, urns, imported vessels, and ten large stone inscriptions carved in the Indus Valley script, potentially the world’s earliest signboard.
Significantly, remnants of a copper smelter found at the site suggest that the Dholavira inhabitants possessed knowledge of metallurgy.
Decline and Abandonment of Dholavira
Dholavira’s decline coincided with that of Mesopotamia, a fact that suggests economic integration between the two civilizations. The retreat of the sea caused the surrounding Great Rann of Kutch to become a mudflat, subsequently leading to a drought-like situation that forced inhabitants to migrate towards the Ganges valley or south Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Other Noteworthy Harappan Sites in Gujarat
Gujarat hosts several other Harappan sites, including Lothal, Rangpur, Rojdi, Prabhas, Lakhabaval, and Deshalpar. Most notably, before Dholavira’s excavation, Lothal was the most prominent IVC site in Gujarat.
Additional UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Gujarat
In addition to Dholavira, Gujarat is home to three more UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the historic city of Ahmedabad, Rani ki Vav in Patan, and Champaner & Pavagadh.