Understanding Indus Valley Civilisation in Dholavira

If you find archaeology and all things old fascinating, you will love Dholavira. The ancient city of Dholavira, locally known as Kotada Timba, is one of the five largest Harappan sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation. On July 27, 2021, Dholavira was added to the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Also read: Old city of Lakkundi to be a part of Hampi Tourism Circuit


Dholavira is located in Kutch district, Gujarat, and also falls on the Tropic of Cancer. Powerful earthquakes and time may have ravaged the site of Dholavira, but what’s left of the old city is proof enough that once upon a time, Dholavira was a major planned city.

Recent archaeological evidence suggests that Dholavira was occupied around 3500 BCE (pre-Harappan period) and lasted until around 1800 BCE, the Late Harappan period. Dholavira is, without a doubt, one of the very few well-preserved old settlements in the world.


Excavations in Dholavira began in 1990, under the Archaeological Survey of India, 30 years after the initial discovery of the site by Shambhudan Gadhvi, a resident of the nearby village of Dholavira. The excavations revealed Dholavira’s incredible urban planning and gave a very good idea of how the society was during that time.



As per the antiquities discovered from the site, it became clear that the city of Dholavira was actively engaged in trade with Western Asia, Sindh, Punjab and parts of Gujarat.

The excavations also revealed that the city was fortified and had elaborate defense systems, a citadel, gateways, streets, castles, and houses that were made of stones. The presence of the stone houses is one of the many things that sets Dholavira apart from other Harappan sites which clearly had brick houses.


As per the recent news, very soon people will have better access to Dholavira site as the state government is currently in the process of constructing a road from Dhordo village to Dholavira. Dhordo village is an important destination as tourists from all over India and the world come here to see the famous white desert of the Rann of Kutch. Next time, when you are visiting the craft villages or the white desert of Dhordo, make plans for Dholavira too.