Dholavira

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Introduction

✔ Period: 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE (Mature Harappan Phase)
✔ Location: Kutch District, Gujarat, India
✔ Culture: Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)
✔ Discovery: 1967-68 by J.P. Joshi (ASI)
✔ UNESCO World Heritage Site: Declared in 2021

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Key Features of Dholavira

1. Urban Planning & Architecture

✔ Three-Part City Layout:

• Citadel (Upper Town) – Elite ruling class.
• Middle Town – Residential and administrative buildings.
• Lower Town – Common people and workers.
  ✔ Fortifications: Thick stone walls instead of mud bricks (unique in Harappan cities).
  ✔ Unique Water Conservation System:
• Large reservoirs for storing rainwater.
• Sophisticated drainage and stormwater management system.
  ✔ Massive Stepwell: One of the earliest examples of stepwell architecture.

2. Script & Inscriptions

✔ Ten-Letter Signboard:

• Found at the northern gateway.
• The longest Harappan inscription found.
  ✔ Indus Script: Similar to Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.

3. Economy & Trade

✔ Ports & Trade Relations:

• Connected to the Arabian Sea and Mesopotamian civilization.
• Traded beads, semi-precious stones, copper, ivory, and shell objects.
  ✔ Agriculture:
• Relied on rainwater harvesting.
• Possible cultivation of barley, wheat, pulses.

4. Social & Cultural Aspects

✔ No Large Temples or Religious Structures: Suggests secular urban planning.
✔ Burial Practices:

• No elaborate graves like Mohenjo-Daro.
• Some burials in wooden coffins found.
  ✔ Crafts & Art:
• Beads, terracotta figurines, shell artifacts.
• Pottery with geometrical patterns.

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Decline of Dholavira

✔ Climate Change & Drought:

• Decline in monsoon led to water scarcity.
  ✔ Desertification of Rann of Kutch:
• Made agriculture unsustainable.
  ✔ Gradual Migration:
• People possibly moved towards Ganges Valley.

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Significance of Dholavira

✔ Best-preserved Harappan city in India.
✔ Advanced water management system.
✔ Unique stone architecture (compared to brick-based Harappan sites).
✔ Evidence of long-distance trade with Mesopotamia.
✔ Provides insights into the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization.

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MCQs on Dholavira

1. Where is Dholavira located?
   • (a) Rajasthan
   • (b) Gujarat
   • (c) Haryana
   • (d) Punjab
   • Answer: (b) Gujarat
2. Who discovered Dholavira?
   • (a) R.D. Banerji
   • (b) J.P. Joshi
   • (c) Dayaram Sahni
   • (d) Rakhaldas Banerji
   • Answer: (b) J.P. Joshi
3. Which unique water conservation system was found at Dholavira?
   • (a) Stepwells
   • (b) Dams
   • (c) Large reservoirs
   • (d) Canals
   • Answer: (c) Large reservoirs
4. Dholavira belongs to which civilization?
   • (a) Vedic Civilization
   • (b) Indus Valley Civilization
   • (c) Mauryan Empire
   • (d) Gupta Empire
   • Answer: (b) Indus Valley Civilization
5. In which year was Dholavira declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
   • (a) 1986
   • (b) 1999
   • (c) 2021
   • (d) 2004
   • Answer: (c) 2021

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Subjective Questions on Dholavira

1. Discuss the unique urban planning and architecture of Dholavira.
2. How did Dholavira’s water management system contribute to its survival?
3. Compare Dholavira with other Indus Valley sites like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
4. What were the reasons for the decline of Dholavira?
5. Explain the significance of the ten-letter Indus script inscription found at Dholavira.

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Dholavira stands out as an architectural and engineering marvel of the Indus Valley Civilization. Its advanced water management, stone construction, and trade networks make it a crucial topic for UPSC, SSC, and state PSC exams. 🚀