Indus Valley: Urban Planning and Architecture

Mohenjodaro A Planned Urban Centre

Mohenjo-daro, along with Harappa, is one of the most important sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Located in present-day Pakistan, its extensive ruins have provided archaeologists with remarkable evidence of sophisticated urban planning and architecture.

Mohenjo-daro was a large, planned city that flourished around 4700 years ago. Its layout and structures indicate a high level of social organisation and engineering skills.

Laying Out Drains

• One of the most impressive features of Mohenjo-daro was its sophisticated drainage system.
• This indicates that the Harappan people had a strong concern for hygiene and sanitation.
• Drains were laid out along the streets and were often covered with stone slabs or bricks.
• Every house was connected to the street drains. The drains from houses would typically lead to a small cesspit or channel, which then connected to the main street drain.
• The drains were built with baked bricks and were carefully laid out with a gentle slope to ensure water flowed through them.
• Inspection holes were provided at intervals to allow for cleaning and maintenance.
• The quality of the drainage system was so advanced that it is often considered one of the hallmarks of the Harappan cities.

Domestic Architecture

• Houses in the Lower Town of Mohenjo-daro were generally residential buildings.
• Houses were typically built around a central courtyard. The courtyard was likely used for activities like cooking and weaving, especially during hot weather.
• Rooms were built around the courtyard.
• Houses usually had a separate bathing area, sometimes with drains connecting to the street drains.
• Many houses had their own wells, providing a private source of water.
• The focus on privacy is suggested by the fact that there were often no windows on the ground level walls facing the main street, and the main entrance did not typically provide a direct view into the interior courtyard.
• Houses were constructed using baked bricks of standard sizes.
• Most houses were one or two storeys high.

The Citadel

• The city was often divided into two parts: the Citadel (a smaller, higher area, usually to the west) and the Lower Town (a larger, lower area, usually to the east).
• The Citadel in Mohenjo-daro contained large, important buildings that were likely used for public purposes.
• It was built on mud-brick platforms and was walled, physically separated from the Lower Town.
• Significant structures in the Citadel include:
  • The Great Bath: A large rectangular tank with features suggesting ritualistic bathing (as discussed previously).
  • The Granary: A large structure for storing grains (as discussed previously).
  • Other structures that might have had administrative or religious functions.
• The distinct division between the Citadel and the Lower Town, and the presence of monumental public buildings in the Citadel, suggest a degree of planning and possibly a ruling authority that organised these urban features.

*(Image shows photographs of the excavated drainage channels, wells, or walls of houses at Mohenjo-daro)*

Mohenjo-daro is considered a prime example of sophisticated urban planning in the ancient world, particularly notable for its organised layout, advanced drainage, and consistent use of baked bricks.

Houses, Drains And Streets (Harappan)

The layout of houses, the arrangement of streets, and the provision of drainage systems were defining features of the urban planning in Harappan cities like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. These elements worked together to create functional and relatively hygienic urban environments.

Houses:

• Residential houses in the Lower Town were built on platforms, suggesting that the areas were deliberately raised to protect them from floods.
• Houses varied in size, indicating some differences in wealth, but the basic plan of rooms around a courtyard was common.
• The quality of construction using standard-sized baked bricks was generally high, even for ordinary houses.

Drains and Streets:

• Streets were laid out in a grid pattern, oriented roughly along north-south and east-west axes, cutting each other at right angles. This regular layout is characteristic of Harappan urban planning.
• Major streets were quite wide, while smaller lanes branched off from them.
• The drainage system was closely integrated with the street plan. Covered drains ran along the sides of the streets.
• House drains connected to these street drains.
• Manholes (inspection holes) were provided at intervals for cleaning the drains.

*(Image shows a photograph of excavated Harappan streets with clear grid layout and covered drainage channels along the side)*

The consistent planning of houses, streets, and drains across different Harappan cities suggests a level of centralised authority or a widely shared cultural norm regarding urban design and sanitation. This systematic approach to urban living was quite advanced for the time period.

A Closer Look — Harappan Towns In Gujarat

While major sites like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro are in present-day Pakistan, the Indus Valley Civilisation extended into parts of India, including Gujarat. Sites in Gujarat, such as Lothal and Dholavira, provide unique insights into the urban and maritime aspects of the civilisation.

Lothal:

• Location: Located in the coastal area of Gujarat, near the Gulf of Cambay (Khambat).
• Lothal was an important port city of the Harappan civilisation, dating back to around 2400 BCE.
• Archaeological finds include:
  • A supposed dockyard: A large rectangular basin connected to a channel, interpreted by some as a dockyard used for berthing ships and handling cargo. While its interpretation as a tidal dock is debated, it clearly indicates maritime activity.
  • A warehouse for storing goods.
  • Evidence of trade: Seals, weights and measures, pottery, and workshops for making beads and other crafts, indicating its role as a trading centre.
  • Standard Harappan city features: Planned layout, houses, streets, and drains (though some variations from major sites).
• Lothal's location and features highlight the coastal and maritime trade activities of the Harappan people.

*(Image shows a photograph of the large rectangular basin at Lothal, often identified as a dockyard)*

Dholavira:

• Location: Located in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
• Dholavira is one of the largest Harappan sites in India and provides evidence of a well-planned city with unique features, dating back to around 2650-1900 BCE.
• Unique features of Dholavira:
  • The city was divided into three parts (unlike the two parts - Citadel and Lower Town - in most other Harappan cities): Citadel, Middle Town, and Lower Town. Each part was fortified.
  • Extensive water harvesting system: A sophisticated system of reservoirs and channels for collecting and storing rainwater, crucial in the arid environment of Kutch. This indicates adaptability to local environmental conditions.
  • Large open areas (possibly stadiums or ceremonial grounds).
  • A large inscription board with large Harappan script symbols (undeciphered).

*(Image shows a photograph of the large excavated water reservoirs or the fortified walls at Dholavira)*

The Harappan sites in Gujarat, like Lothal and Dholavira, demonstrate both the characteristic features of the Indus Valley Civilisation (planning, brick structures, seals, weights) and regional variations and adaptations, such as the emphasis on maritime activities at Lothal and sophisticated water management at Dholavira. These sites contribute significantly to our understanding of the extent and diversity of the Harappan civilisation.