Dholavira 

---

• Recently, Dholavira the Harappan city which is located in the Kutch district of Gujarat has been named as the 40th Indian site inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage list. 

• Dholavira is the first Indus Valley Civilisation site in India that has been included in the list.

Key Highlights 

• The decision to induct this site in the covet list was taken at the 44th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Fuzhou, China. 

• Recently, the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple in Telangana, was added to the list. 

• After Rani ki Vav, the walled city area of Ahmedabad and Champaner, Dholavira becomes the fourth site from Gujarat to be added to this list by UNESCO. 

• Dholavira is one of South Asia’s most well-preserved urban settlements. 

About Dholavira 

• Dholavira is located on the Khadir Island in Kutch district of Gujarat. It was discovered in the year 1968 and is spread over 22 hectares. It is Indus Valley Civilisation’s fifth largest archaeological site. 

• Dholavira dates back to approximately 3000 BC and it is believed that the city was occupied till 1500 BC. 

• Its name is taken from the Dholavira village located on the Indo-Pakistan border. Locally this site is known as Kotda Timba (the fort mound). 

• This site is divided into three parts. They are the middle town, the citadel and the lower town. The citadel has detailed structures of fortification. 

Unique features 

• Excavations has revealed that the city houses were constructed using lime stones and all of them were connected to a sewage network. 

• Tanks to store fresh or rainwater have also been found. 

• Copper smelter remains have been found but no mortal human remains recovered from this site. 

• During excavation ornamental beads, red earthenware and microlithic tools were also found.