Architecture in Harappan Civilization
Last Updated : 12 Apr, 2023
Architecturein Harappan Civilization was very different and unique, when compared with any other civilizations of the time and shows certain elements which later civilizations of the Indian civilization borrowed from.
Indus Valley CivilisationFeatures of Architecture in Harappan Civilization
The architecture of the Harappan Civilization was very unique and had no foreign influences. The use of the architecture was mostly for the purpose of functions and not for beauty or decoration. The evolution of the architecture of the civilization occurs in isolation and has been influenced by the local cultures; which prevailed previously years back of the first farming and pastoralist settlements. The maturity and elegance which is present in the architecture of the Harappan civilization is unique and no other civilization can match it's level of complexity and style.
Town Planning in Harappan Civilization
The main prespective behind the architecture of Harappan Civilization is that of utilitarian. They were also one of the first to introduce separate worker's quaters. The cities in Harappan civilization didn't have same town designs but most of the buildings followed a similar pattern.
Most of the building structures included defensive wall, citadel and lower town, as well as alleys and roadways, drainage and water management systems. The plan of the city was created by use of geometrcial tools and followed a certain pattern, citadel being located in the west of lower town, however in some cities it was located in south. Cardinal directions of streets and lanes were used for partitioning certain rural villages to some blocks and sub-blocks and the residences were mostly lined up on both the sides of the streets.
Mohenjodaro Images
Mohenjodaro Remains
Dancing Girl Some of the important features of town-planning in Harappan Civilization are as follows:
Grid Pattern
Harappa and Mohenjodaro were laid down in the grid pattern and the provisions for an advanced drainage system was laid down. The orientation of same was from East to West. Each street was having well organized drainage system.
Acropolis and Lower Cities
The city was mostly divided into two parts, which were fortified seperately.
- One part was located in a raised mound, while other was in the level of ground.
- The acropolis or citadel contained the important buildings of the city, which included assembly halls, religious structures and granaries; and great bath in case of Mohenjodaro.
- The lower section in the city included housing for inhabitants. The city wall connected with broad roads of 30 meters long which mostly met in right angles and houses were located in rectangular squares.
Streets
The streets and roadways were all straight mostly and intersected at the right angle. All roadways were constructed with burned bricks, with the lenght of each of brick being four times its height and also breadth being two times its height.
The city was split into rectangular blocks by streets and also roadways. There were also evidences of trash cans.
Public Buildings
Some of the most important public buildings present in the Harappan Civilization were as following:
Great Bath
The Great Bath is most notable feature of the Mohenjodaro and it is made up of big quadrangle. It was located within the city and was a huge rectangular tank which might have been used for some special rites or cermonial bathing.
There is a huge swimming pool in the centre and has ruins of galleries and chambers in all four sides. Flight of stairs in either side and the water was released from massive drain with corbelled ceiling and the outside walls were 8 feet thick of the Great Bath.
Granaries
The granary was 45.7 meters long and had 15.2 meters broad, is one of the biggest structures of Mohenjodaro. Harappa had some set of brick platforms which served as foundations for two rows of six granaries each.
Brick platforms had been first discovered in the southern section of Kalibangan. These granaries were used to protect the grains, which were likely gathered as income or as storehouses to be used in crises. In case of disasters, most staple foods were stocked in these warehouses, to be used for public distribution.
Dockyard in Lothal
Lothal had a large structure, which has been identified as the tidal dock and there exist great deal of evidence that cities traded extensively with other civilisations of the period. Lothal dock connected the city to an ancient course of Sabarmati river on trade between Harappan cities and other places. Trade of beads, gems and other items reached from far corners of West Asia and Africa here.
Drainage System
The Harappans had a detailed knowledge about the hydraulic engineering and built a very efficient drainage system. The drops were placed in regular intervals and were constructed in the drains for the purpose of self cleaning.
The private drains would drain in small drains and small drains would into large drains; and large drains would take the entire waste water of city to outside. Some drains would be covered in stones or large sized bricks. Some important components of drainage included soakage jars, man-holes etc.
Houses
The houses were mostly of various sizes and some of the houses had two levels:
- The dwellings were constructed mostly of smoldering bricks and had a central courtyard, a well, bathing place and a kitchen were mostly included in most dwellings.
- Each house was connected to efficient drainage system which included many developed structures.
Fortification Wall
Fortification wall was to defend certain important Early Harappan towns and the fortess wall defended Rehman Dehri, Tarakai Qila, Kohtras, Buthi, Mehrgarh, Dhalewan and others of the Harappan Civilization.
Gateways
Some of the cities in Harappan cities had just one doorway like that of Lothal and Balu, while others like Kalibangan and Surkotada had two or more. The gateways were mostly of either plain entry and some were of unique significance.
Building Materials
The main materials which were used for the buildings in Harappan civilization included sun-dried and burnt bricks, which were used mostly in the ratio of 1:2:4 and also easily available woods for burning meant baked bricks used in abundance in both Harappa and Mohenjodaro.
Wells and Sanitation
Seewage was mostly disposed off through the drains situated underground built with bricks laid down precisely and a sophisticated water management system with many reservoirs was situated.In case of drainage system, drains from the homes were connected to more drains.Earliest evidence of urban sanitation was found in Harappa, Mohenjodaro and recently discovered site Rakhigarhi.
Conclusion
The civilization was one of the oldest and also considered quite advance and ahead of it's time. The cities were considered to be well developed and planned. Waste collection and disposal were done properly and the streets were also wel laid using burnt bricks.
Question 1: What is Harappan Civilization?
Answer:
It is also known as Indus Valley Civilization is earliest known urban culture of the Indian subcontinent and appear between 2500-1700 BCE.
Question 2: What was the most important building in Harappa?
Answer:
Citadel, Great Bath, Pillared Hall and Granary.
Question 3: How old is the harappan civilization?
Answer:
The Harappan civilization lasted from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE and in its mature from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE.
Question 4: Where is Harappa located?
Answer:
Harappa is archaelogical site in Punjab,Pakistan, about 24 km west of Sahiwal.
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