| Paper | GS Paper 1 |
| Word Limit | 150 words |
| Syllabus Topic | Indian Culture – Art Forms and Architecture from Ancient to Modern Times |
Model Answer
The Harappan or Indus Valley Civilisation (mature phase c. 2600–1900 BCE) built some of the world’s earliest planned cities. Its architecture was practical and civic, not grand.
Harappan city: raised citadel, gridded lower town and covered drains
Town Planning
- Grid pattern: Straight streets crossed at right angles, as in Mohenjo-daro.
- Divided city: A raised citadel on the west and a lower town on the east. Dholavira had three parts.
- Drainage: Covered brick drains with manholes ran along the streets.
Houses and Materials
- Standard bricks: Burnt bricks in a fixed ratio of 1:2:4.
- Houses were built around a courtyard, with wells and bathrooms.
Public Structures
- Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro, made watertight with gypsum mortar and bitumen.
- Granaries at Harappa and a dockyard at Lothal.
- Water reservoirs at Dholavira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2021).
- No clear temples or palaces have been found.
Conclusion
Harappan builders valued hygiene, order and public welfare. Their planning still offers lessons for sustainable urban planning in India’s crowded cities.
Related PYQs
- To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss. (2014)
- The ancient civilization in Indian subcontinent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present day. Comment. (2015)
- Examine the main aspects of Akbar’s religious syncretism. (2025)
See all: Indus Valley Civilization – Super Simplified Notes
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