The Indus Valley Civilization existed roughly between 3300 B.C. and 1300 B.C., which falls within the Bronze Age and is ranked among the four widely known civilisations of the Old World. Extensive excavation work undertaken during the post-independence period identified hundreds of sites belonging to the Harappan civilisation. The prominent among these are Dholavira (Gujarat), Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Lothal (Gujarat), Sarkotada (Gujarat), Diamabad (Maharashtra), Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh), Bhagwanpura and Banawali (Haryana), Kuntasi, Padri (Gujarat) and Mauda (Jammu).
Great Bath of Mohenjodaro
The Indus Valley Civilization was distinguished by its meticulous town planning, a fact that is evident from the gridiron pattern used for the layout of cities, some of which were fortified, and the sophisticated drainage and water management systems. Unlike their contemporaries in Mesopotamia and Egypt, the Harappans constructed their buildings with baked bricks. These bricks, along with stone and wood, were used in a variety of sizes for construction. The lower area of the buildings was primarily functional, with many houses boasting two storeys.
The most striking of the buildings was the Great Bath of Mohenjodaro, which was 54.86 metres long and 32.91 metres wide, with thick outer walls surrounded by galleries and rooms. The Granary Complex was another important structure of the Harappan period, which comprised blocks with an overall area of 55×43 metres.