{"id":4363,"date":"2026-08-18T11:00:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T05:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=4363"},"modified":"2026-08-18T11:43:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T06:13:16","slug":"indus-valley-civilization-sites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/indus-valley-civilization-sites\/","title":{"rendered":"Indus Valley Civilization Sites, Map, Location, Significance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">also known as the <\/span><b>Harappan Civilisation, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">is one of the earliest civilisations globally. It existed concurrently with the civilisations of <\/span><b>Mesopotamia <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and Ancient Egypt.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Major <\/span><b>Indus Valley Civilization sites<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> reveal advanced town planning, drainage, craft production, trade, agriculture, standardised weights, baked-brick buildings, and water-management practices. Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, Kalibangan, Lothal, and Rakhigarhi are among <\/span><b>Indus Valley Civilization sites<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization About<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/indus-valley-civilization\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was a <\/span><b>Bronze Age civilisation <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">that flourished in the northwestern regions of South Asia, primarily in present-day Pakistan and northwest India, around <\/span><b>3300 BCE to 1700 BCE <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and in its mature form from<\/span><b> 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE.<\/b><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The IVC significantly influenced subsequent cultures and civilisations in the Indian subcontinent.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Its advancements in <\/span><b>urban planning<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, architecture, and social organisation remain subjects of admiration and study in modern archaeology and history.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization Sites Map<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The geographical spread of the Harappan Civilisation was vast. It extended from Shortugai in Afghanistan in the north-west to Alamgirpur in Uttar Pradesh in the east, and from Manda in Jammu and Kashmir in the north to Daimabad in Maharashtra in the south. The map of Indus Valley Civilisation is given below:<\/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 Sites Map\" width=\"809\" height=\"683\" 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: 809px) 100vw, 809px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilisation Sites and Rivers<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The location of Harappan settlements shows the importance of rivers for agriculture, water supply, transport, and trade. The civilisation developed mainly in the valleys of the Indus, Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab, Beas, and Ghaggar-Hakra river systems.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<table style=\"width: 70.7539%\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 37.0909%\">\r\n<p><b>Site<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 61.7186%\">\r\n<p><b>River \/ Water Association<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 37.0909%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Harappa<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 61.7186%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ravi River<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 37.0909%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mohenjo-daro<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 61.7186%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus River<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 37.0909%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kalibangan<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 61.7186%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ghaggar River<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 37.0909%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Banawali<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 61.7186%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rangoi River in Ghaggar-Saraswati region<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 37.0909%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lothal<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 61.7186%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bhogavo River<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 37.0909%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Alamgirpur<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 61.7186%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hindon River<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 37.0909%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shortugai<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 61.7186%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Oxus or Amu Darya River<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 37.0909%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sutkagendor<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 61.7186%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dasht River region<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 37.0909%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dholavira<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 61.7186%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Between seasonal streams (Manhar and Mansar) in the Rann of Kachchh<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 37.0909%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ropar<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 61.7186%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sutlej River<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 37.0909%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chanhudaro<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 61.7186%\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus River<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilisation Sites in India<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Several important Harappan sites have been discovered in present-day India. The major concentration is found in Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan, while sites such as Alamgirpur extend the civilisation's archaeological footprint into western Uttar Pradesh.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Haryana:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Haryana was an important region of the Harappan civilisation because of its proximity to the Ghaggar-Hakra river system. The most important <\/span><b>Indus Valley Civilisation Sites in Haryana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> include Rakhigarhi, Banawali, Bhirrana and Mitathal.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Gujarat: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gujarat contains important Harappan sites that reveal the civilisation\u2019s coastal, trading, and water-management capabilities. Major <\/span><b>Indus Valley Civilisation Sites in Gujarat<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> include Dholavira, Lothal, Surkotada, Rangpur, Desalpur<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Uttar Pradesh:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The most important <\/span><b>Indus Valley Civilisation Site in UP<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is Alamgirpur, located in the Meerut region on the Hindon River.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Rajasthan: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rajasthan was an important Harappan region, particularly along the Ghaggar river basin. Important Indus Valley Civilisation Sites in Rajasthan include Kalibangan and Baror.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilisation Sites in Pakistan<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Present-day Pakistan contains many of the civilisation\u2019s largest and most important urban centres. The Indus River and its tributaries formed the core zone of Harappan urbanisation. Key Indus Valley Civilization sites in Pakistan include major urban centers like Mohenjo-daro in Sindh and Harappa in Punjab, alongside regional towns such as Ganweriwala, Chanhudaro, Kot Diji, Mehrgarh, and the westernmost outpost, Sutkagen Dor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilisation Sites in Afghanistan<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The major Indus Valley Civilisation Site in Afghanistan is Shortugai. It is located near the Oxus River, also known as the Amu Darya. Shortugai is important because it demonstrates the Harappans\u2019 long-distance trade connections with Central Asia. The settlement likely played a role in trade involving materials such as lapis lazuli from the Badakhshan region.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilisation Major Sites<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The IVC encompassed numerous important sites, each contributing unique insights into the civilisation's urban planning, culture, and economy. The following are some of the key sites and their significance:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Harappa<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Harappa, a city of the IVC, existed from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE. <\/span><b>Daya Ram Sahni<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> excavated the Harappa site<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">on the bank of the <\/span><b>Ravi River<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Architecture:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The town was laid out on a grid plan and had several impressive public buildings, including a granary and a citadel. The city of Harappa was divided into two parts: the citadel and the lower town.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Drainage: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Harappa has provided evidence of elaborate drainage facilities in the Indus Valley civilisation. It was found that the street drains were made of baked bricks.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Pottery: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Redware pottery is the most common type of pottery in Harappan cities. It features painted designs with geometric patterns such as horizontal lines, circles, pipal leaves, plants, and trees, as well as fish and peacock motifs.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Seal-making<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: There is evidence of shell-making workshops in Harappa. Seals depict various animals, such as short-horned bulls, buffalo, rhinoceros, tigers, and crocodiles.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Weights and measures:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Scales made of shell, ivory, and copper were found in Harappa and were probably used for linear measurement.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Granary: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The \u2018granary\u2019 was located<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> north of the citadel.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It consisted of 12 units organised in 2 rows of 6 rooms, separated by a central passage.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Burials:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> There is evidence of coffin burials, which were found only in Harappa. Wooden coffins were also found at Harappa.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mohenjodaro<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/mohenjo-daro\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mohenjo Daro<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, also known as the \"<\/span><b>Mound of the Dead<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">,\" is a collection of mounds and ruins located on the right bank of the Indus River in northern Sindh province, Pakistan. It thrived between 2600 and 1900 BCE. Significant Findings at Mohenjodaro include the following:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Great Bath: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mohenjo-Daro's famed structure, the Great Bath, is a brickwork marvel with a tank measuring 11.88x7.01 meters and 2.43 meters deep. Water is sourced from a well, and the building has a bituminised floor and walls to prevent leaks and open porches on four sides.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Granary: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The greatest discovery at Mohenjo-Daro is a granary with 27 chambers of varying sizes and shapes.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Assembly Hall:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Another key structure, the Assembly Hall, a 90x90 feet pillared hall, served as a social meeting place in the citadel.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Lower Town: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The lower town featured large courtyard buildings, indicating a significant middle class.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Each home in Mohenjo-Daro included a courtyard, kitchen, and well with ample light and drainage. Small bathrooms and efficient drainage and sanitation systems were common.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Notable Artefacts: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ivory, lapis, carnelian, and gold beads, along with baked-brick city buildings, showcase the city's wealth and importance.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Mother Goddess<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: A captivating figure from the Indus Valley Civilization, the 'Mother Goddess' terracotta sculpture is handmade, originating in Mohenjo Daro, Pakistan, around 2500 BCE.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Priest-King<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: The 'Priest-King' is a steatite sculpture found at Mohenjo-Daro, featuring a bearded man with distinctive features and a trefoil-carved cloak.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Dancing Girl: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A famous bronze sculpture from Mohenjo-daro, the 'Dancing Girl,' created using the lost-wax casting method, stands out as the city's most prominent figurative artwork.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Pashupati Seal: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The 'Pashupati Seal,' a steatite seal, depicts a cross-legged figure surrounded by animals. Interpretations vary, with some seeing a yogi and others a three-headed \"proto-Shiva\" ruling over animals.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dholavira<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/dholavira\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Dholavira<\/b><\/a><b>, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">k<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">nown as Kotada in the local dialect,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">was a 1,200-year-old Harappan city that was inhabited between 3000 and 1800 BCE.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Location:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Dholavira, located near the village of Dholavira in <\/span><b>Gujarat\u2019s Kutch District<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, is the fifth-largest Indus Civilization site in the subcontinent and was designated a <\/span><b>UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It is situated between the Mansar and Manhar seasonal streams.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Features:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The site includes a walled city with a fortified Castle, Bailey, Ceremonial Ground, Middle Town, and Lower Town, as well as a cemetery to the west. East and south of the Citadel, a series of reservoirs were discovered.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Archaeological Findings:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Dholavira's remains feature fortifications, gateways, water reservoirs, ceremonial grounds, residential units, workshop areas, and a cemetery, all indicative of Harappan culture.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Water System:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The sophisticated water system includes 16 reservoirs, water channels, and step wells leading to large public baths.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kalibangan<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/dholavira\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Kalibangan<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is derived from two words:<\/span><b> Kali and Bangan. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kali means black, and Bangan means bangle. The numerous pieces of terracotta bangles that were discovered here led to the naming of Kalibangan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: It is located about 310 kilometres northwest of Delhi, along the left bank of the now-dry river Ghaggar in the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Features<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Kalibangan is significant for its archaeological evidence of both the pre-Harappan period and the Harappan period.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kalibangan served as the primary provincial capital of the Indus Valley Civilisation.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is well-known for its remarkable<\/span><b> fire altars<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which show evidence of animal sacrifice.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It also provides the world's earliest evidence of <\/span><b>ploughed fields, irrigation, and fertiliser use.<\/b><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The presence of <\/span><b>trepanned skulls <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">at Kalibangan suggests that the IVC people had a considerable understanding of human anatomy and surgical techniques.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lothal<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The name \"<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/lothal-ancient-port-of-indus-valley-civilisation\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Lothal<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">,\" derived from the combination of \"Loth\" and \"(s) thal\" in Gujarati, translates to \"the mound of the dead.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Lothal, situated in Gujarat, was one of the <\/span><b>southernmost sites<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of the IVC. The port city is believed to have been constructed around 2,200 BC.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Features:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Lothal housed the world\u2019s <\/span><b>earliest known dock,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> linked to the <\/span><b>Sabarmati River<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, crucial for trade between Harappan cities and Saurashtra. Marine microfossils, salt, and gypsum crystals found by the National Institute of Oceanography confirm it was a dockyard.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Archaeological Survey of India excavated a mound, township, marketplace, and the dock itself.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rakhigarhi<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/rakhigarhi\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Rakhigarhi <\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">is one of the five largest known townships of the Harappan civilisation on the Indian subcontinent. In 2012, the watchdog <\/span><b>Global<\/b> <b>Heritage<\/b> <b>Fund listed it<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> as one of the ten <\/span><b>most<\/b> <b>endangered<\/b> <b>heritage<\/b> <b>sites<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in Asia. Rakhigarhi is among the five iconic sites announced in the Union Budget 2020, and Rakhigarhi Museum will be the world's largest museum dedicated to Harappan culture.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Location:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Rakhigarhi, located about 150 km northwest of Delhi in Haryana's Hisar District, is both a village and an important Indus Valley Civilization site.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Major Findings:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Excavations revealed that Harappans did not have steppe pastoral or ancient Iranian farmer ancestry. Seal impressions indicate they used seals to mark belongings. Artifacts like tools, jewellery, stamps, and weights suggest a toy culture and standardised weight systems.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chanhudaro<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Situated barely 130 kilometres away from Mohenjodaro, Chanhudaro, which dates back to the third millennium BCE, was a significant industrial centre that produced carnelian beads, which were highly valued in antiquity. The major findings of Chanhudaro include the following:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Artefacts:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Baked bricks were extensively utilised in the construction of homes in Chanhudaro.In Chanhudaro, evidence of shell works was unearthed, and the production of bangles and ladles took place.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Seals:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Harappan seals, integral to the administrative network, were crafted in larger towns like Harappa, Mohenjo Daro, and Chanhudaro.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Evidence of Factories:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Chanhu Daro has yielded evidence of factories manufacturing a diverse range of items such as figurines, seals, toys, and bone instruments. This suggests that it was not just a village but rather an industrial town with a significant number of skilled craftsmen.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Other Important Indus Valley Civilization Sites<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Other important Indus Valley Civilization sites, such as Surkotada and Banawali, reveal further aspects of their technological innovations, economic activities, and social organisation:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Sutkagendor: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This Harappan site is located in the <\/span><b>Makran district<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of Balochistan (Pakistan), on the banks of the <\/span><b>Dasht River.<\/b>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Presently, it is the westernmost site of the Harappan Civilization that is known. Like most Harappan sites, Sutkagendor also has a citadel and defensive wall that is about 30 feet wide.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Significant archaeological findings unearthed from Sutkagendor include Stone vessels, Pottery, Shell beads and Bangles made out of clay.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Surkotada: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Situated on the banks of the <\/span><b>Shadi Kaur river<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in Gujarat's Kutch district, Surkotada is the sole Harappan site where tangible remnants of <\/span><b>horse <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">bones have been discovered.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Evidence suggests that the Harappans settled this site only during the<\/span><b> later phase<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of their civilisation, between 1900 BC and 1300 BC.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Significant archaeological findings from Surkotada include horse, elephant, and wolf bones, as well as stone fortifications.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Banawali: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is located in the Fatehabad district of Haryana, about 120 km northeast of Kalibangan.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The city is made up of a well-built fort town with a 4.5-meter-tall defence wall. The houses were constructed using burnt and moulded brick kilns.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Finding: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pottery, beads, seals, and evidence of trade with distant regions, indicating an advanced economy.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Amri: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This site is located in the <\/span><b>Dadu district<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of Sindh, Pakistan, on the banks of the <\/span><b>Indus River<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. It has evidence of Antelopes and Rhinoceros.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization Sites Significance<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) sites are historically significant because they provide the earliest physical evidence of highly advanced urban planning, public sanitation, standardized trade, and peaceful, egalitarian societies in South Asia.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Advanced Engineering: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cities featured highly advanced, covered wastewater drainage systems and trash chutes.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Standardized Weights: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Uniform systems of stone weights point to a well-regulated economy.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Peaceful Society: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The lack of grand temples or palaces suggests an egalitarian society focused on civic order rather than ruling elites.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Craftsmanship: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Exquisite artifacts, like the Bronze Dancing Girl and the Pashupati Seal, highlight their advanced metallurgy and rich spiritual symbolism.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indus Valley Civilization Sites UPSC PYQs<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><b>Q1:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Discuss the salient features of the Harappan architecture. <\/span><b>(UPSC Mains 2025)<\/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 the present-day urbanization? 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<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) Dholavira<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) Kalibangan<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) Rakhigarhi<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) Ropar<\/span><\/p>\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><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) Chanhudaro<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) Kot Diji<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) Sohagaura<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) Desalpur<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Ans: (a)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Q5:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Match List-I (Ancient site) with List-II (Archaeological finding) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:\u00a0 (<\/span><b>UPSC Prelims 2002<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">&nbsp;<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">List-I (Ancient site)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">&nbsp;<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">List-II (Archaeological finding)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lothal<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ploughed Field<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">B<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kalibangan<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dockyard<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">C<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dholavira<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Terracotta replica of plough<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">D<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Banawali<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An inscription comprising ten large-sized signs of the Harappan script<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) A \u2013 1; B \u2013 2; C \u2013 3; D \u2013 4<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) A \u2013 2; B \u2013 1; C \u2013 4; D \u2013 3<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) A \u2013 1; B \u2013 2; C \u2013 4; D \u2013 3<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) A \u2013 2; B \u2013 1; C \u2013 3; D \u2013 4<\/span><\/p>\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 prominent Indus Valley Civilization sites include Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Dholavira, etc. Check more about IVC sites, location, rivers, significance, etc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":7987,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,18],"tags":[514,40,1085],"class_list":["post-4363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-notes","category-upsc-ancient-history-notes","tag-indus-valley-civilization-sites","tag-quest","tag-upsc-ancient-history-notes"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4363","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=4363"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27707,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4363\/revisions\/27707"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}