Dholavira : Not just the Ruins anymore…
Hello all,
It’s winter
And for us Gujarati,
It is the season of Undhiyu
Season of Ponk
Season of Chikki
And season of Gajar Halwa
The fragrance of Sarson Da Saag
might be in some kitchen
And some homes get
Aroma of Bajre ki roti
But
Most of all
It is the season of visiting gem of Gujarat
And that is
Kutch…
And in Kutch there is a place called Dholavira, which is now emerging as a touristy place. We visited this last January. The place was famous for the Harappan civilization archaeological site. Now, due to the road to heaven, the white Rann of Dholavira is also the sweetest surprise you can get…
Places to visit and Things to do:
- Harappan Archeological Site
- Museum
- Fossil Park
- Sunset point
- Road to Heaven
- Sunrise from Road to Heaven
- Star Gazing
- Bird watching
Harappan Archeological site:
Visiting the ancient ruins is like going back in time. Dholvaira was one of the major cities of the Harappan civilization. It gives us insights into a culture that flourished between 2900 BC and 1500 BC. Most popularly known as “Dholavira World Heritage Site”, the place is one of the most celebrated archaeological sites in the world.
One word that comes to mind after seeing this site is planning! This site is the perfect example of the marvel of Architectural planning. The precision of every little detail will Amaze you.
There are three main parts:
- The Citadel
- The middle town
- The lower town.
The features that will amaze you are:
- Unique Architecture : most of the amazing buildings were made from locally available stone.
- Innovative Drainage Systems: this is the most unique feature.
- Urban Planning: Proper planning of the residential and commercial areas, along with the administrative buildings and wide streets, all provide us with the visionary mindsets of people in that era.
- Ancient Water Reservoirs: There were multiple reservoirs that provided sophisticated water conservation system
- Stormwater Channels: The city had two stormwater channels, the Mansar in the north and the Manhar in the south, designed to manage floodwaters. These channels were mainlyhelpful in situations of floods.
- The Stadium: This shows us the importance of sports and other educational activities during that period
Decline of civilization:
- Climate change
- Shifting course of rivers
- Overuse of resources leads to their decline
- Socio-political changes
Timeline of Dholavira:
3300 BCE – This is the period of the Rise of the Indus Valley Civilization. which laid the foundation for well-planned cities and civilizations with proper and meticulous planning.
2500 BCE – This was the golden era for Dholavira. The city became e one of the most significant cities of the Harappan culture during this period.
1967–68 – After being hidden under the soil of Kutch for centuries, the lost city was rediscovered by J.P. Joshi of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
1990 – The ASI began excavations in 1990 and gradually revealed this ancient city.
These ruins are testaments to the amazing civilization that once thrived here. These remnants are now a well-recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site, and still restoration of the site is ongoing.
Museum:
Just in the same complex, there is a museum where they have restored items like utensils, Jewellery, weapons, etc.
Fossil park:
It is a little away from the main archaeological site and near the sunset point. We arrived late, and as it was time for sunset, we left immediately from there as we didn’t want to miss the doe stay ikat sunrise; as you all know, we are opacarophiles! There are ancient marine fossils, and it is an exciting visit for those interested in palaeontology.
White Rann of Dholavira:
Along the road to Heaven, there are a few endless stretches of white Rann. These are isolated, less crowded and unique.
Road to Heaven:
You can read about it here.
Sunset point :
Don’t miss this. The pace is so energetic, with a more serene sunset. There are a few tea stalls near the parking area. And the place is vast so you can definitely find your small, tiny, isolated spot.
Sunrise from the Road to Heaven :
Now this is something else entirely. You can not describe this in any words…
Star gazing:
Most people plan to visit Rann during the full moon like us, and rightly so, as the beauty of the desert at full moon is eternal. But the night sky becomes a celestial canvas for the rest of the night and provides a breathtaking view for stargazers.
Bird watching:
The place is heaven for bird lovers, especially flamingos.
Location:
Dholavira, located on the Khadir Bet island in the Great Rann of Kutch, is accessible by various means of transport.
The best time to visit:
Between October and March, because of pleasant weather.
How to Reach:
Dholavira is accessible by road from Bhuj. Consider going from Road to Heaven either way. Bhuj is which is well-connected by air and rail; you can read about it here.
So, Kutch nahi dekha to kuch nahi dekha and withoit visit to this gem Kutch gaye to kya gaye…
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👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
Congratulations for a nice trip full of joy and with nature of ancient India .
All the best.
Thank you uncle..
Thank you.
Beautiful pictures!
I visited long back but, it was enjoyable to revisit virtual!😊
Thank you…
👍
After seeing Harappan city, I told my friends, Machu pichu dekhne se pehle Harappan city dekhke lo.
100%. we have so many places like this..Thanks ma’am..
Very nice 👍 you can visit our home too for winter season food like marcha methi gota gajar halva and many other..Dholavira is really archiological place,infect these entire area are charming place to visit.. thanks for all these information
sure uncle… Thank you…
Will visit for sure
Thank you
Wow
simply simple yet beautiful
Thanks dear..
Thank you..
Thank you..
Awesome … sunset and sunrise looks marvelous.
Yes!