{"id":2983,"date":"2026-08-17T13:27:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T07:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=2983"},"modified":"2026-08-17T15:24:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T09:54:51","slug":"indus-valley-civilization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/indus-valley-civilization\/","title":{"rendered":"Indus Valley Civilization, Map, Sites, Features, Town Planning"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <strong>Indus Valley civilization<\/strong> is the earliest known <\/span>urban culture<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of the <\/span>northwestern regions<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the world\u2019s three earliest civilisations, along with <\/span>Mesopotamia <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and <\/span>ancient Egypt<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. This civilisation flourished from approximately 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE<\/span><b>. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Geographical factors, including soil fertility, climate, and physical features, contributed to the development of the Indus Valley civilisation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most of the sites discovered earlier, <\/span><b>Harappa <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and <\/span><b>Mohenjo-Daro,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are present in the Indus Valley, which gives it the name. Later sites such as <\/span>Kalibangan, Lothal, Rakhigarhi, etc. <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">revealed similar features. Harappa was the first excavated site; hence, it is also called <\/span><b>Harappan Civilization.<\/b><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization Origin<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Indus civilization originated in the Indus River basin, evolving from villages that followed the Mesopotamian model of irrigated agriculture<\/span><b>.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The civilization can be dated between <\/span><b>3300 BCE <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and <\/span><b>1300 BCE<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with the help of Radiocarbon dating.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Origin: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Indus Valley in the Indian subcontinent was one of the first places where humans settled down and advanced to a highly civilised lifestyle.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Contemporary Name:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Its contemporary name comes from its location in the Indus River valley, but it is also known as the <\/span><b>Indus-Sarasvati Civilisation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Many sites were excavated later on the banks of the Ghaggar-Hakra river bed.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Geographical Factors: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The geographical conditions in the <\/span><b>Indus Valley <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">must have been ideal for human settlement and development. Today, this terrain is extremely dry and unsuitable for <\/span><b>human habitation.<\/b>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/seals-of-harappan-civilization\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Seals of Harappan Civilization<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">are found to have figures of a variety of plants and animals that can exist only in moderately wet conditions. Therefore, it is assumed that the climatic conditions were quite moderate.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The vast plains along the Indus were very <\/span><b>fertile<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. The floods deposited rich <\/span><b>alluvial soil <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">on these plains every year and irrigated the lands.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization Discovery<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Indus Valley Civilisation was discovered in <\/span><b>1921 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">when <\/span><b>Daya Ram Sahni<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> excavated the site of Harappa. However, the first person to discover Harappa was Charles Masson, who identified it as an ancient city called <\/span><b>Sangala <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">from the time of Alexander.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Early Identification: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Harappa was first noted by <\/span><b>Charles Masson<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, who initially misidentified it as the ancient city of Sangala from Alexander the Great's era.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>1921:<\/b> <b>Daya Ram Sahni<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> led the first formal excavations at Harappa, marking the true physical discovery of the civilisation.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>1922:<\/b> <b>Rakhal Das Banerji<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> discovered <\/span><b>Mohenjo-daro<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> shortly after.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>1924:<\/b> <b>Sir John Marshall<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), officially announced the existence of this ancient urban civilisation, initially named the <\/span><b>Indus Valley Civilisation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, to the world.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Major Urban Centres:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Later excavations uncovered major cities like Dholavira and Lothal in Gujarat, Rakhigarhi in Haryana, and Ganweriwala in Pakistan.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization Phases<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The time period of the Indus Valley Civilization can be divided into three phases - <\/span><b>Early Harappan, Mature Harappan, and Late Harappan. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It transitioned around 2600 BCE from early farming villages into planned urban centres, flourishing until 1900 BCE, before environmental shifts led to a rural return.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 22.5159%\">\r\n<p><b>Phases<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 18.4989%\">\r\n<p><b>Dates<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 19.4503%\">\r\n<p><b>Important Sites<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 38.2664%\">\r\n<p><b>Features<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 22.5159%\">\r\n<p><b>Early Harappan or Regionalization\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 18.4989%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3300- 2600 BCE<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 19.4503%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Harappa<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Kot Diji<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Amri<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 38.2664%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Fortification and grid planning<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Development of an incipient trade network<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Craft specialisation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 22.5159%\">\r\n<p><b>Transitional Phase<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 18.4989%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 19.4503%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Kunal<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Dholavira<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Harappa\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 38.2664%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Increasing level of craft specialization<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Organised irrigation system<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Partly standardised repertoire of pottery designs and forms.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 22.5159%\">\r\n<p><b>Mature Harappan or Integration<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 18.4989%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2600- 1800 BCE\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 19.4503%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Mohenjo-Daro<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Harappa<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Kalibangan<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Dholavira<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 38.2664%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Full-scale urbanisation<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Emergence of writing<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Uniformity in artefacts<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Full-fledged trade.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 22.5159%\">\r\n<p><b>Late Harappan or Localization<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 18.4989%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Post 1800- 1500\/1300 BCE<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 19.4503%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Cemetery H at Harappa<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Siswal<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Rojdi<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Rangpur<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 38.2664%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Decline of IVC, and abandonment of some sites<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Rise of pastoral mode.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization Map<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Indus Valley Civilisation spanned the <\/span><b>north-western region of the Indian subcontinent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, covering parts of modern-day India, such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, as well as Sindh and the Cholistan Desert in Pakistan. It encompassed an area of approximately 1,299,600 square km, and covered a considerably broader region than the ancient <\/span><b>Egyptian or Mesopotamian <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cultures did.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-27665 \" src=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp\/upsc-exam\/2026\/07\/17144659\/Gemini_Generated_Image_nv8qz6nv8qz6nv8q-1-scaled.png\" alt=\"Indus Valley Civilization Map\" width=\"794\" height=\"670\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp\/upsc-exam\/2026\/07\/17144659\/Gemini_Generated_Image_nv8qz6nv8qz6nv8q-1-scaled.png 2048w, https:\/\/vajiramias.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp\/upsc-exam\/2026\/07\/17144659\/Gemini_Generated_Image_nv8qz6nv8qz6nv8q-1-768x649.png 768w, https:\/\/vajiramias.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp\/upsc-exam\/2026\/07\/17144659\/Gemini_Generated_Image_nv8qz6nv8qz6nv8q-1-1536x1297.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 794px) 100vw, 794px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Major River Basins and Settlements<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Settlements of the Indus Valley Civilisation primarily flourished along two major river systems:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>The Indus River System:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Major urban centers, including Harappa in Punjab and Mohenjo-daro in Sindh, grew along the fertile banks of the Indus River and its five tributaries.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>The Sarasvat\u012b River Basin:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Flowing east of the Indus from the Himalayan foothills down to the Gujarat and Thar region, the Sarasvat\u012b River (represented today by the seasonal Ghaggar-Hakra riverbed) supported a remarkably high density of clustered settlements.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilisation Sites<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Indus Valley Civilization, situated in the river basins of the Indus and Ghaggar-Hakra, featured several key cities such as <\/span><b>Mohenjo-Daro<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>Harappa<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>Kalibangan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>Lothal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>Rakhigarhi, Chanhudaro<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>Banawali<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>Dholavira<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, etc. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It extended from <\/span><b>Sutkagendor <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(in Balochistan, Pakistan) in the West to <\/span><b>Alamgirpur <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(UP) in the East; and from <\/span><b>Mandu <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(Jammu) in the North to <\/span><b>Daimabad <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(Maharashtra) in the South. Major <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/indus-valley-civilization-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\">Indus Valley Civilisation sites<\/a> include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 12.3679%\">\r\n<p><b>Major sites<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 19.8731%\">\r\n<p><b>Location (Present)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 66.8076%\">\r\n<p><b>Major Findings<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 12.3679%\">\r\n<p><b>Harappa\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 19.8731%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Punjab province of Pakistan (Ravi River)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 66.8076%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- The site was discovered by <\/span><b>Daya Ram Sahni <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">in 1920<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- The city was divided into <\/span><b>two parts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, i.e., the <\/span><b>citadel <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and the <\/span><b>lower town.<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><b>Great Granary<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> located in the citadel<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Elaborate drainage facilities made of baked bricks.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Evidence of wheel-made and baked <\/span><b>pottery<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Evidence of <\/span><b>coffin burial.<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 12.3679%\">\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/mohenjo-daro\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Mohenjo-Daro<\/b><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 19.8731%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sindh Province, Pakistan (Indus River)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 66.8076%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Included as a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/world-heritage-sites-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Mohenjo-Daro was divided into two parts: the Citadel and the Lower Town.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><b>Great Bath<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> ritual bathing site) <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and Great Granary.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><b>Stone Art:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Sculpture of Bearded Man<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Bronze \u201cDancing Girl\u201d Statue<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><b>Terracotta: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Representations of bulls and buffalo and female figurines.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><b>Complete burial<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><b>Seals:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Depict animals, human figures, and even deities. Example: <\/span><b>Pashupati seal.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 12.3679%\">\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/rakhigarhi\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Rakhigarhi<\/b><\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 19.8731%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hisar district, Haryana (Sarasvati River)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 66.8076%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/dna\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>DNA<\/b><\/a><b> analysis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of skeletal remains revealed that the Harappan civilisation inhabitants had a distinct origin.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Land townships were enclosed with mud and burnt brick homes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Efficient drainage system and proper sanitation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- The granary consisted of mud bricks and the floor was made of rammed earth plastered with mud.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- A seal with an <\/span><b>alligator <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">symbol was discovered.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 12.3679%\">\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/dholavira\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Dholavira<\/b><\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 19.8731%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 66.8076%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Included in the list of<\/span><b> World Heritage Sites<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> list of UNESCO in 2021.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0Cities consisted of a citadel, a middle town, and a lower town.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Cascading series of water reservoirs,<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Extensive use of stone in construction.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Special burial structures.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Black-on-red ware pottery, Redware, and Buff ware pottery.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- It is renowned for its sophisticated <\/span><b>water harvesting system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and, therefore, known as a<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">lake city or a <\/span><b><i>jala durga<\/i><\/b><b> (water fort).<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 12.3679%\">\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/lothal-ancient-port-of-indus-valley-civilisation\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Lothal <\/b><\/a><b>(Mound of the dead)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 19.8731%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gulf of Khambhat region, Gujarat<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 66.8076%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- A metropolis with an upper and a lower town.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A <\/span><b>bead factor<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">y and <\/span><b>tidal dockyard <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">were discovered.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- It is the only port town of the Indus Valley Civilization.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">People worshipped the fire god.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>-<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Use of<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">coffins in<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">burial pits.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Redware and Blackware pottery.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lothal has revealed the earliest evidence of rice cultivation in South Asia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 12.3679%\">\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/kalibangan\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Kalibangan\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 19.8731%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rajasthan<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(Ghaggar River)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 66.8076%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is made up of three mounds.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Known for its remarkable<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">fire altars and the world's earliest attested ploughed field.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- The earliest<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> form of <\/span><b>artificial irrigation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was practised.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Different types of burials show social inequalities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- <\/span><b>Mesopotamian pottery<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was discovered at the site, showing trade relations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Burnt bricks were used only for drains at <\/span><b>Kalibangan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization Features<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>mature Harappan Phase<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> includes a diverse range of urban and non-urban rural sites that vary in size and function but are inherently identifiable as <\/span><b>Harappan settlements<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> due to features such as town planning, pottery, script, seals, evidence of external trade, and so on. Some of these features have been discussed here.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">City Planning of Indus Valley Civilization<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the most outstanding features of the Indus cities was their well-planned<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/town-planning-of-harappan-civilization\/\" target=\"_blank\"> <b>town planning<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. The excavations at <\/span><b>Harappa <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and <\/span><b>Mohenjo-Daro <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">have revealed a great deal of evidence of this.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Two parts:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Generally, the cities of Harappan culture had two parts \u2013 the <\/span><b>citadel <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and the <\/span><b>outer city.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The citadel was erected on an elevated site. The outlying city was on a lower level.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Grid patterns:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The IVC cities were constructed in a grid arrangement, with streets flowing north-south and east-west, resulting in a well-organised structure.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The roadways were large and straight, cutting each other at <\/span><b>right angles.<\/b><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Drainage System of Indus Valley Civilization:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> They had an excellent drainage system. The drains were built of mortar, lime, and gypsum. Each residence featured a sturdy washbasin from which water poured into the subsurface drains.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b style=\"font-size: inherit;font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &#039;Segoe UI&#039;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, &#039;Apple Color Emoji&#039;, &#039;Segoe UI Emoji&#039;, &#039;Segoe UI Symbol&#039;\">Houses:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Houses were of different types, small and large. <\/span><b style=\"font-size: inherit;font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &#039;Segoe UI&#039;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, &#039;Apple Color Emoji&#039;, &#039;Segoe UI Emoji&#039;, &#039;Segoe UI Symbol&#039;\">Burnt bricks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> were extensively used to make houses and other structures. Houses were also provided with wells and bathrooms.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Other Important Structures:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The Great Bath and Pillared Hall at Mohenjo-Daro, the dockyard at Lothal, and the granary at Harappa.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-27667\" src=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp\/upsc-exam\/2026\/07\/17150007\/Screenshot-2026-08-17-at-2.57.54-PM.png\" alt=\"Town Planning of IVC\" width=\"651\" height=\"223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp\/upsc-exam\/2026\/07\/17150007\/Screenshot-2026-08-17-at-2.57.54-PM.png 1152w, https:\/\/vajiramias.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp\/upsc-exam\/2026\/07\/17150007\/Screenshot-2026-08-17-at-2.57.54-PM-768x263.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 651px) 100vw, 651px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Social Life<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The social life of the Indus Valley Civilisation was systematic, peaceful, and highly urbanised. Society was divided into various occupational groups like merchants, artisans, farmers, and administrators.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Political authority: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There may have been some sort of political authority\/State did exist in the Harappan civilization.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The communication systems, standardisation of artefacts, site specialisation, use of a common system of writing, and the establishment of trading outposts like Shortughai are evidence of some kind of political authority<\/span><b>.<\/b><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Social classes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The different types of houses indicate different social classes. Merchants<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">appear to have formed the upper class, as trading was the primary activity. The artisans and farmers<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">might be the common people.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Dress: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The discovery of many <\/span><b>spindles <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">suggests the use of cotton and woollen fabrics.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Ornaments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: A large number of ornaments like necklaces, armlets, finger-rings, bangles, etc., have been found from these sites. These were made of <\/span><b>gold<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>silver<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>ivory<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and precious stones.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b style=\"font-size: inherit;font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &#039;Segoe UI&#039;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, &#039;Apple Color Emoji&#039;, &#039;Segoe UI Emoji&#039;, &#039;Segoe UI Symbol&#039;\">Recreation and Amusements: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The people of Harappa appear to have enjoyed dance and music. They were also familiar with indoor activities such as <\/span><b style=\"font-size: inherit;font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &#039;Segoe UI&#039;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, &#039;Apple Color Emoji&#039;, &#039;Segoe UI Emoji&#039;, &#039;Segoe UI Symbol&#039;\">dice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A great quantity of <\/span><b>terracotta toys <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">was discovered in Mohenjo-Daro.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Economic Conditions<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Harappan civilisation occupied a varied landscape encompassing alluvial<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">plains, mountains, plateaus, and sea coasts. The area was rich enough to generate a surplus, which was crucial for urbanisation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Agriculture:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Agriculture was the primary occupation of the Indus Valley people. They cultivated wheat, barley, peas, and, in some places, rice.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They produced enough for both themselves and trade.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They did not irrigate<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">their land with canals.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The annual flood provided sufficient moisture to cultivate crops.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fields were ploughed using a wooden ploughshare.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Domestication of animals:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Based on the Indus seals, it can be said that many animals, including goats, buffaloes, oxen, elephants, dogs, and camels, were domesticated.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, the Harappans do not appear to have been familiar with the <\/span><b>horse<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Metallurgy: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Harappans were aware of copper, gold, and silver metallurgy. Copper was widely used, and it occurs in the form of weapons, agricultural tools, ornaments, etc.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Metalcasting appears to be a continuous tradition. The late Harappan and Chalcolithic sites like Daimabad<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">in Maharashtra yielded excellent examples of metal-cast sculptures.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Trade: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The urban culture and highly specialised manufacturing activity indicate that Harappan cities enjoyed a thriving trade. There was flourishing internal trade<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">between the cities.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The river Indus served as the main waterway through which most of this trade was carried out.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They also traded with Mesopotamian<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cities. Many Harappan seals have been found in Mesopotamian cities.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They exported grain, jewellery, and pottery and imported tin, copper, and precious stones.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Religious Practices<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the first understandings of the Harappan religion was forwarded by John Marshall.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He found several parallels between the Harappan religion and modern Hinduism. One of the seals was identified by him as a \u2018Proto-Shiva' seal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This seal has a male figure seated on a dais. His heels are joined, and his toes point downward. This position is very similar to <\/span><b>mulabandhasana <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">in yoga.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Figurines resembling a female deity have been found. They suggest worship of the <\/span><b>Mother Goddess.<\/b><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>No temples<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> have been discovered at any of the Harappan sites.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Harappans might have also venerated pipal trees. One seal depicts seven figures paying obeisance to the tree.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Art During Indus Valley Civilisation<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The art of the Indus Valley Civilisation includes remarkable stone and bronze sculptures, intricate steatite seals, terracotta figurines, and polished pottery. Masterpieces like the bronze \"Dancing Girl\" and the stone \"Priest-King\" showcase advanced craftsmanship and aesthetic sophistication in early urban South Asia.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Art:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Most human figurines were handmade and made from bronze, terracotta, steatite, and <\/span><b>faience material. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The female figures were embellished with ornate jewellery and headdresses.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Examples:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> the Dancing Girl statue and priest-king (male figurine).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Faience:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It is an artificial material made from quartz. Several faience items, including beads, bangles, earrings, and figurines, have been discovered in Harappan archaeological sites.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Crafts:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The Harappan people were good craftsmen. They used more copper than bronze.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Brick-making and masonry were other important occupations.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Spinning <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and <\/span><b>weaving <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">too were common crafts.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pottery made on a <\/span><b>potter's wheel <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">was decorated with different designs and painted <\/span><b>red and black.<\/b><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Indus Valley Civilization Script<\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>Indus seals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are a unique source available to us to learn about the Harappan culture. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They are small rectangular terracotta tablets with drawings of vegetation and animals. There is also visual text on them. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Since this pictorial script has yet to be deciphered, our understanding of the Harappans is largely limited to those images. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Indus Script is boustrophedon (as an ox turns in ploughing). It is a term used for scripts that are written in both directions \u2013 left to right and right to left continuously.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3>Indus Valley Civilization Seals<\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley seals are small, carved stone objects made mostly of steatite around 2500\u20131500 BCE. They feature animal figures, religious motifs, and an undeciphered writing system. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">People used them for trade, branding goods, and as personal identity amulets.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization Decline<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Spanning approximately a millennium, the Harappan Civilisation (or Indus Valley Civilisation) came to an end <\/span><b>around 1300 BCE<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, coinciding with the arrival of the <\/span><b>Aryans<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in India. While the precise <\/span><b>causes of the <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/decline-of-indus-valley-civilization\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> remain uncertain, several key factors have been proposed:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Changes in Climatic conditions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The generally accepted view among historians is that a gradual change in climatic conditions rendered the region <\/span><b>inhospitable <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and caused its decline.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Natural Calamities:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Some believe that natural calamities like <\/span><b>floods <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">or <\/span><b>earthquakes <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">might have caused its destruction.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Decline in Trade:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Extensive<\/span><b> hydrological studies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> have established that the river <\/span><b>Indus <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and <\/span><b>Sarasvati <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">changed their courses several times, maybe around 1900 BC.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This calamity must have brought out large-scale changes or disruptions in the <\/span><b>internal trade routes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> connecting the hinterland with the <\/span><b>coast<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization UPSC PYQs<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><b>Q1: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The ancient civilisation in the Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present day. Comment. <\/span><b>(UPSC Mains 2015)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Q2: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to present-day urbanisation? Discuss. <\/span><b>(UPSC Mains 2014)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Q3: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelling water into connected reservoirs? (<\/span><b>UPSC Prelims 2021<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ol style=\"list-style-type: lower-alpha\">\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dholavira<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kalibangan<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rakhigarhi<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ropar<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><b>Ans: (a)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Q4:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?<\/span><b> (UPSC Prelims 2019)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<ol style=\"list-style-type: lower-alpha\">\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chanhudaro<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kot Diji<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sohgaura<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Desalpur<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><b>Ans: (c)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Q5:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Which of the following characterise\/characterises the people of the Indus Civilization? <\/span><b>(UPSC Prelims 2013)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They possessed great palaces and temples.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They worshipped both male and female deities.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Select the correct statements using the codes given below:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ol style=\"list-style-type: lower-alpha\">\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 and 2 only<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 only<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1, 2 and 3<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">None of the above<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><b>Ans: (b)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 125px\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Other Related Posts<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/prehistoric-period\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Prehistoric Period<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/indus-valley-civilization-sites-location-and-significance\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Indus Valley Civilization Sites<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/chalcolithic-age\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Chalcolithic Age<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/rakhigarhi\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Rakhigarhi<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/megalithic-culture\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Megalithic Culture<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/lothal-ancient-port-of-indus-valley-civilisation\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Lothal<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/town-planning-of-harappan-civilization\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Town Planning of Harappan Civilization<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/kalibangan\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Kalibangan<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Indus Valley Civilization was an urban civilisation in Northwestern India around 3300 BCE. Check more about Indus Valley Civilization, map, sites, etc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2984,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,18],"tags":[42,40,1085],"class_list":["post-2983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-notes","category-upsc-ancient-history-notes","tag-indus-valley-civilization","tag-quest","tag-upsc-ancient-history-notes"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2983"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2983\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27670,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2983\/revisions\/27670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}