{"id":8011,"date":"2023-04-26T12:02:52","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T12:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/?p=8011"},"modified":"2024-01-13T05:42:33","modified_gmt":"2024-01-13T05:42:33","slug":"architecture-in-indus-valley-civilization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/architecture-in-indus-valley-civilization\/","title":{"rendered":"Architecture in Indus Valley Civilization – UPSC Indian Art & Culture Notes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

The earliest known culture of the Indian subcontinent is the Indus Valley Civilization<\/a>, which developed primarily during the Chalcolithic period (3300-1300 BCE)<\/strong>. Most of the sites belonging to this period have been excavated from modern-day India<\/strong> and Pakistan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Indus Valley Civilization had two great cities, Harappa <\/strong>and Mohenjodaro<\/strong>, which emerged around 2600 BCE along the Indus River Valley<\/strong> in the Sindh <\/strong>and Punjab provinces<\/strong> of Pakistan<\/strong>. The discovery and excavation of these cities in the 19th and 20th centuries<\/strong> provided important archaeological data regarding the civilization’s architecture, technology, art, trade, transportation, writing, and religion.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Planned
Planned town in Indus Valley Civilization<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Other important archaeological sites belonging to this period include Kot Diji<\/strong> in Sind<\/strong>, Kalibangan <\/strong>in Rajasthan<\/strong>, Rupar <\/strong>in the Punjab<\/strong>, Banawali <\/strong>in Haryana<\/strong>, and Lothal<\/strong>, Surkotada<\/strong>, and Dholavira<\/strong>, all three in Gujarat. Among the excavated sites, Rakhigarhi<\/strong>, a village located in Haryana, is the largest Indus Valley Civilization site.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Rakhigarhi
Rakhigarhi<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Previously, Mehargarh <\/strong>in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan<\/strong>, dating from around 7000 B.C.E<\/strong>., was considered the oldest Indus Valley Civilization site<\/strong>. However, Bhirrana is now considered the oldest discovered site, with some of the oldest mounds dating back to 7500 B.C.E. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The architecture of the Indus Valley Civilization was indigenous <\/strong>and developed without any apparent foreign influence. The buildings were constructed purely from a utilitarian perspective rather than for aesthetic purposes<\/strong>. However, the architectural practices evolved from local cultures that had roots extending back thousands of years to the earliest farming and pastoral communities. The crowning jewel<\/strong> of the Indus Valley Civilization’s architecture happens to be the sophistication achieved with its town planning<\/strong>, with no other contemporary civilization able to boast such sophistication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The town planning<\/strong> of Harappan cities was not uniform<\/strong>, but a similar pattern was followed in most of them. The fortification wall<\/strong>, the citadel <\/strong>and lower town<\/strong>, streets <\/strong>and lanes<\/strong>, drainage system<\/strong>, and water management system<\/strong> were the important features of Harappan city plans. The city plan was designed by the architects with the help of geometrical tools. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Planning in Harappan Cities<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Harappans were the first to prioritize the welfare of workers<\/strong> by establishing separate worker’s quarters<\/strong>, which has now become a necessity in a welfare state. The fortification was a common feature across the sites, primarily constructed to provide security to the citizens from any attacks<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harappan cities were composed of walled sectors in different parts of the settlement. The citadel was built on a raised platform<\/strong>, while the lower town was located on the lower part of the town<\/strong>. Public buildings, like the Great Bath<\/strong>, were built in the citadel, while the lower town usually had only residential buildings. Some of the metropolitan cities, like Harappa<\/strong>, Mohenjodaro<\/strong>, Kalibangan<\/strong>, Banawali<\/strong>, Rakhigarhi<\/strong>, Lothal<\/strong>, and Dholavira<\/strong>, had citadels and lower towns, but most of the cities’ settlements were not divided into citadels and lower towns. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Dholavira’<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Indus
Indus Valley Civilization – Mature Phase<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Harappan people made their houses on platforms <\/strong>to prevent flooding<\/strong>, and they were masters of hydraulic engineering<\/strong>, developing an efficient drainage system<\/strong>. The Harappans used a grid pattern<\/strong> in their city planning, and the drops at regular intervals were constructed in the drains for self-cleaning. Soakage jars<\/strong>, man-hole cesspools<\/strong>, and other components were important in the drainage system. The construction of reservoirs <\/strong>was also a notable feature of the Indus Valley Civilization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n