Photos

Harappa was a settlement on the banks of the Ravi River that achieved its fullest splendour in the period 2600 to 1500 BCE. There was a fortified citadel, grainary, drainage system, cemetery, street-plan and of course - housing. Not much remains, although restoration activity has been undertaken for more than a score of years.

Harappa was part of the larger Indus-Saraswati civilization that included Mohenjo Daro in Sindh, Lothal in Gujarat, and Kalibangan in Rajasthan. In Pakistan, certainly, Harappa was larger than Mohenjo Daro, both in terms of area and population. Unfortunately, the site suffered when locals plundered bricks to build their own homes, and the British removed materials for construction of the Lahore-Multan rail line. Consequently, much less remains to be seen on a visit. There is an undistinguished museum, and a paved walkway which wends its way through the site.

The Indus-Saraswati civilization shares pride of place as building blocks of our modern society with the Tigris-Euphrates and Nile river-systems.

There are a number of fine artefacts which repose in the collection of the National Museum in New Delhi, the Harappa Gallery, and I intend to upload a few photos from there in the weeks ahead.