Urban and Town Planning of Indus Valley Civilization

Civilizations are complex societies that call for developing urban settlements with the advent of agriculture and trade. They are proof that humans are capable of living above the survival level. More importantly, civilizations differentiate humans from other species.

During the Bronze Age, people observed human settlements near rivers and valleys due to agricultural necessities, which marked the origins of civilizations. They named the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the three earliest civilizations in Near East and South Asia, after a human settlement near the Indus River.

Archaeologists have excavated the known sites of this civilization and concluded that it was more advanced than other modern civilizations. But what makes the Indus Valley Civilization significantly advanced? Let’s dive into it.

Town Planning: A Significant Characteristic

Despite its widespread existence, there is little remaining of the Indus Valley Civilization today. Fortunately, the remains include two key archaeological sites – Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. By excavating these two sites, we deduced that the Indus Valley Civilization had grid-based systematic town planning.

Additionally, the Indus Valley Civilization had urban planned cities beyond Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, namely Chanhudaro, Kalibanga, Dholavira, Surkotada, and Lothal.  These centers had towns with sophisticated urban planning like efficient drainage systems and the right-angle street turns.

Comparative analysis of urban layouts in these sites indicates that the towns in this civilization were far more advanced for their time. Thus, town planning of Indus Valley Civilization is a significant characteristic that implies advanced development.

Town Planning of Indus Valley Civilisation: Features

By far, we inferred that Indus civilization settlements prevail over modern civilizations. To consolidate this inference, we must divulge the infrastructures that made the Indus Valley civilization ahead of its time. As with any civilization, the Indus Valley Civilization focused on maintaining the quality of life.

To ensure a better life, the town planning of Indus Valley Civilization had public infrastructures like roads, streets, and sewers. By analyzing the urban layouts, we can also conclude the evidence for political and administrative regional areas in the civilization.

Such regional areas include public granaries, dams, canals, and the great bath. They significantly showcase the advanced development of the Indus Valley civilisation. Let’s untangle town planning of Indus Valley Civilisation.

Drainage System of Indus Valley Civilization

One of the most prosthetic features of town planning of Indus Valley Civilization is its closed drainage system. The urban settlements in this civilization had houses and other public infrastructures with drains.
The drains connected to the gutters in the street and formed the basis of the public drainage system.

Additionally, the drainage system of the Indus Valley civilisation had channels laid by brick that flowed through every street. Manholes were incorporated into these covered channels for maintaining and cleaning the drainage system. The manholes were built at regular intervals for efficient cleaning.

Another noteworthy infrastructure of Indus Valley Civilization town planning is the brick culverts. Builders constructed these culverts with corbelled roofs on the outskirts of the urban settlements. They indicate the drainage system of the Indus Valley civilisation had structures to handle the excess water as well. 

Roads and Streets of Indus Valley Civilization

Residents achieved economic stability through agriculture and trade, leading to the development of the earliest civilizations. Indus Valley Civilization was no exception to economic stability. For the efficient exchange of goods, the town planning of Indus Valley Civilization had roads and streets.

In the town planning, the roads divided the urban settlements into rectangular blocks. The streets exhibited straight paths and intersected each other at right angles. On top of that, the streets were 13 – 34 feet wide and spaced well enough to accommodate large traffic.

Residents of the Indus Valley Civilization could easily commute because the roads and streets followed a grid-based layout. The presence of lamp posts alongside the roads suggests the existence of street lights. Dustbins on the streets indicate municipal administration as well.

Buildings of Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization constructed buildings with burnt bricks, distinguishing them from structures in other early civilizations that used stones. They connected the drainage system well to these buildings. To prevent water leakage, builders occasionally utilized sunburned bricks and baked bricks in constructing buildings.

Furthermore, excavations indicated the existence of door and window frames. And wood was used to build these frames. Extensive excavation in the archaeological sites of the Indus Valley civilization even found evidence for the existence of mud mortars and gypsum cement.

In the town planning of Indus Valley Civilization buildings like houses, citadels, and halls were built for holding meetings and workmen’s quarters. Also, these buildings had efficient frameworks for water supply from public wells that were found by the side of the streets.

The Houses

The houses built in the urban settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization were of great significance in understanding its town planning. Excavation of the Indus Valley Civilization remains indicates the existence of terraced houses built using burnt bricks.

These excavations also found that every house consisted of two or more rooms. And there were more than one-storied houses. Likewise, archaeologists found evidence that the houses were designed with pillared halls, bathrooms, paved floors, kitchens, and wells.

A notable feature of the Indus Valley town planning is that the urban settlement had two sections. We refer to the sections as upper and lower towns of the Indus Valley civilisation. The partition was inferred due to the existence of lower houses in lower towns and citadels in upper towns.

Great Bath

The Great Bath is one of the most significant features of Indus Valley Civilization town planning. The evidence from excavation indicated the great bath was a water tank of Mohenjo-daro. Resembling the structure of a modern-day swimming pool, the Great Bath was constructed using bricks.

The Great Bath was prevented from leaking using gypsum coating. The water to the great bath was supplied from a well situated in one of the adjoining rooms.  Some of the Great baths even facilitated hot baths.

In the Great Bath, the water tank was approximately 39 ft long, 23 ft wide, and 8 ft deep had a flight of steps at both ends. Additionally, the great bath was surrounded by 8 ft thick outer walls. These walls successfully withstood and protected the Great Bath for 5,000 years from natural ravages.

Granaries

The excavations claimed that the largest infrastructure built in the town planning of Indus Valley Civilization was a granary. It was approximately 149 ft long and 49 ft wide. In the archaeological site of Harappa, researchers found a series of brick platforms serving as bases for two rows of six granaries.

Similarly, brick platforms have been discovered in the southern part of Kalibangan. These granaries stored grains collected as revenue and for emergencies. A large drain with a corbelled roof cuts through the edge of the granary, indicating that the drain was built after the granary itself. The drain is more than 6 ft in depth.

What makes the Indus Valley Town Planning Special?

Among archaeologists, the Indus Civilization is widely known for its urban culture and town planning. The town planning of Indus Valley Civilization showcases the profound knowledge of the Indus Valley people.

Information furnished by the excavations inferred that the upper and lower towns of the Indus Valley Civilization were well-organized. However, organized cities are not the only feature of town planning. There was evidence that contributed to the existence of the defensive measures in town planning.

The town planning of Indus Valley Civilization protected the civilization from both natural disasters and military conflicts. The mountains located in the north and the desert located in the west acted as a natural barrier to civilization.

The houses, being made of burnt bricks, were protected from floods. They built massive walls around the city to ensure urban security throughout the civilization. These features make the bronze age Indus Valley civilisation even more special and advanced for its time.

Town Planning of Harappan Civilization

Indus Valley civilization is also known as the Harappan civilization because the distinctive evidence for the existence of the Indus Valley civilization was first found in the ‘Harappa’ archaeological site. It had massively populated independent administrative districts called urban centres. During the mature Harappan phase (2600 BCE), small communities became large urban centres. Some famous urban centres are the Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, and Ganeriwala situated in modern-day Pakistan, and Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi, and Lothal situated in modern-day India.

The discovery of the cities Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro enhanced the excavation of the Indus Valley Civilization. The ruins of these cities provide evidence of Indus Valley Civilization houses and drainage systems such as the channels, brick culverts, and storeys of houses.

The evidence of urban settlements and civilization construction has astonished archaeologists worldwide. Further, these cities were well-known for their multi-tiered settlements such as houses and buildings with more than 2 storeys.

Features of Harappan Town Planning

The Harappan Civilization, flourishing around 3300-1300 BCE, is renowned for its remarkable town planning. Here are some of the hallmarks of town planning of Harappan Civilization:

• Grid System: Harappan cities were laid out in a meticulous grid pattern, with streets intersecting at near-right angles. This efficient layout divided the city into well-defined rectangular blocks, fostering organization and easy navigation.
• Advanced Drainage: Wastewater management was a priority. Underground drainage systems, meticulously crafted from bricks or stones, cleverly linked individual residences to street drains, ensuring hygiene and sanitation.
• Imposing Citadel: A defining feature of Harappan cities was the presence of a citadel, a high platform constructed from mud-bricks. This elevated area likely housed elite structures, administrative buildings, or religious complexes.
• Widespread Brick Use: One of the most distinctive characteristics of Harappan Civilization is the extensive use of fired bricks. Unlike many civilizations of the time, Harappans rarely relied on stone for construction. Buildings, from grand granaries like the one found in Mohenjo-daro to ordinary homes, were constructed from these durable bricks.
• Public Bath Network: Public bathing played a significant role in Harappan society. The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro exemplifies this focus on public hygiene. This impressive structure, built with fired bricks, served as a communal bathing area.

Indus Civilization Map

By looking at the Indus Civilization map, we can find that many of the cities of the Indus Civilization are in modern-day India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Considered the most widespread civilization among the four earliest civilizations, the Indus Valley Civilization stands out.

As per the Indus civilization map, The civilization lengthened from Pakistan in the west to Uttar Pradesh in the east. Similarly, it expanded from Afghanistan in the north to Gujarat in the south. The states of Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh in India host the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. Likewise, the ‘Harappa’ and ‘Mohenjo-daro’ are located in the Sindh region of Pakistan. Additionally,  the cities of the Indus Valley civilisation situated in Afghanistan are Shortugai and Mundigak. The Rakhigarhi, the largest settlement of the Harappan site, is a key archaeological site that is located in the Indian State of Haryana.

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Indus Valley Civilization Artefacts

The Indus Valley Civilisation people had massively great skills in the field of arts and crafts. They made extremely realistic human and animal figures. The artefacts of Indus Valley Civilization became apparent during the second half of the third millennium, known as the Bronze Age.

Archaeologists document the artefacts they find using pictures with names from the Indus Valley Civilization. The artefacts include seals, pottery, sculptures, ornaments, and terracotta figures made by the people of the civilization.

How people made these artefacts establishes a connection to the daily life and culture of the Harappa Civilization. We use the Indus Valley Civilization pictures with names to identify the found artefacts in the future.

At the Rakhigarhi archaeological site, researchers discovered a jewellery-making factory, for instance. This shows that the people wore complex gold jewellery in their daily lives, and they also used metal and terracotta decorations in their houses.

Urban Planning of Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1300 BCE) astounded archaeologists with their remarkably advanced urban planning. Here’s a glimpse into their sophisticated approach:

• Grid System: Imagine a city with streets running north-south and east-west, intersecting at near-perfect right angles. This was a hallmark of Indus Valley cities. This meticulous grid divided the city into organized blocks, making navigation and organization a breeze.
• Underground Drainage: Advanced for their time, the Indus Valley people prioritized hygiene. They built a network of underground drains, constructed from bricks or stones, that efficiently channeled wastewater from homes to street drains, keeping the city clean and sanitary.
• Citadels of Power: A high mud-brick platform, often referred to as a citadel, dominated most Indus Valley cities. This elevated area likely housed important structures like administrative buildings, religious complexes, or residences of the elite.
• Burnt Brick Advantage: Unlike many civilizations of their era, the Indus Valley people extensively used fired bricks for construction. This stands in contrast to their reliance on stone. From grand granaries to ordinary homes, these durable bricks formed the backbone of their buildings.

Town Planning of Indus Valley Civilisation UPSC

The town planning of Indus Valley Civilisation is an important topic in the UPSC IAS exam. This topic covers the prominent part of the art & culture subject in the General Studies Paper-1 syllabus. It also covers a significant part of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus – General Studies Paper-1.

The key aspects of town planning of Indus Valley Civilization emphasised in UPSC exams include:

• Important archaeological sites
• Harrapan Architecture
• Indus Valley civilisation drainage system
• Arrangement of houses, streets, and roads
• Defensive measures of urban settlements
• Indus Valley Civilization: Pioneering Town Planners

Conclusion

The ruins of the Indus Valley Civilisation represent the attempts of our ancestors to develop a civilised society. One such striking attempt that showcases the brilliance of the Indus Valley civilisation is urban planning. Furthermore, it represents the origin of our culture and heritage.

The Indus Valley Civilisation prospered for over 4,000 years and has now evolved into metropolitan cities of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The Indus Valley Civilisation houses and drainage system led to the construction of sophisticated cities and the invention of sewage systems.

Additionally, using burnt bricks in houses instead of stone paved the path for modern-age constructions using bricks. Cities now incorporate well-organized establishments and regular layouts, drawing from the base concept of the Harappa Civilization.

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