Rakhigarhi has been within the information for being the most important web site of Sindhu Saraswati or Indus Valley Civilization. So, it had been on my want checklist for some time. Once I deliberate my journey to Agroha, we additionally took a detour to go to Rakhigarhi.
I bear in mind studying about Harappa and Mohenjodaro in historical past textbooks at school. The enjoyment of watching the dancing woman of Harappa within the Nationwide Museum in Delhi was my solely reference to these historical past classes. Then I visited Lothal which confirmed me the microbeads and the earliest recognized port.
It’s not straightforward to go to Rakhigarhi as the positioning is being actively excavated. Nevertheless, the excavation occurs in a small window that the climate circumstances permit.
The place is Rakhigarhi?
Rakhigarhi is within the Hissar district of Haryana, not too removed from the town. Though the identify Rakhigarhi has gained prominence, the positioning is unfold throughout two villages primarily – Rakhi Khas and Rakhi Shahpur. It’s a enormous web site, greater than any archaeological web site that I’ve seen. ASI board tells me that it’s unfold throughout 500 hectares.
It’s within the planes of the Ghaggar River which in the present day is about 25 km away from the positioning. Traditionally, it’s recognized to be alongside the traditional Drishtawati River which fashioned the boundary of the traditional Kurukshetra. In the present day it’s recognized as Chautang River.
As we entered the village, I used to be reminded of my childhood in related small cities in Punjab. It was virtually like time journey if you undergo slim lanes the place individuals are sitting out and chatting. They struggle their greatest that will help you with the instructions, perhaps questioning what’s there in these ruins.
Rakhigarhi Archaeological Web site
Although the primary excavations passed off in 1969 CE, the key work on this web site was achieved for the reason that late Nineties. Since then, the excavations have been carried out constantly. General, ASI has recognized 11 mounds for excavation named RGR-I to the RGR-XI.
It’s believed to be a serious metropolitan or city heart of the Indus Valley Civilization. Evidences counsel its occupation from the preliminary to the mature part of the civilization with dates starting from the 5th to the threerd millennium BCE.
RGR-II at Rakhigarhi
We first landed on the entrance of RGR-2. A pink sandstone board duly gave us the details about this web site. We entered the mound which was only a mound with a slight incline, not too troublesome to climb.
The excavations right here had been achieved and the mound closed once more. It was in all probability a citadel with an enclosure wall and cells for guards to face and guard it. Different constructions unearthed right here counsel a market, some podiums, granary to retailer grains, giant housing complexes, streets, deep dug wells, and a complicated drainage system.
Artifacts found from this web site additionally embrace jewellery, cube, everyday-use gadgets, and devices product of semi-precious stones, terracotta, and bones.
As we walked round this mound, searching for hints of any of those, we discovered nothing a lot besides the mound with one million mysteries hidden inside it.
RGR-III
RGR-III is positioned bang reverse RGR-II on its japanese facet in Rakhi Shahpur. It is a mound that’s 12 meters excessive and right here the excavations are nonetheless being carried out. Although, in January they had been on a pause. As we walked in the direction of the mound, we might see an enormous shed defending the positioning, which is just about open. Fortunately so.
I cannot describe the awe-inspiring second after we noticed the open mound the place the pottery and the skeletons of our distant ancestors could possibly be seen in plain sight.
The excavated web site was proper subsequent to a village home. As we walked round, a safety guard posted there began speaking to us. He confirmed us the items of terracotta bangles scattered round there. Holding them in my arms, my thoughts went again to all of the museum shows I’ve seen many related terracotta bangles and jewellery. I used to be holding a chunk of historical past.
He stated these sorts of things hold popping up within the fields there. All the great ones have been acquired by the ASI for placing up in museums, together with the positioning museum at Rakhigarhi.
ASI board instructed us that this mound has revealed each burnt bricks and sun-dried bricks used for constructions. This features a large mall, open drainage, kilns, hearths, dug wells, and wedge-shaped burnt bricks. Artifacts recovered embrace terracotta toys, home goods, and shell gadgets.
We might discover so many bangle items and terracotta utensils scattered across the web site. You marvel concerning the quantity of people that inhabited this Mahanagari of our ancestors. Within the open web site the partitions, properly, pots, and skeletons had been clearly seen. Within the multi-story construction, you possibly can see thick partitions in addition to drainage shops.
Different Mounds and Web site Museum
We couldn’t go to the opposite mounds and we had been instructed they had been all closed. For the museum, we had been too late within the night, hopefully, there can be one other time to go to the heritage web site.
As we walked across the village, we might see the layers and lumps that could be holding tales of a wonderful developed previous, the type that we try to create.
You too can go to Lohari Ragho – one other historical mound shut by.
Agroha Dham additionally has an historical mound that was on the traditional commerce route.
Vital finds of Rakhigarhi
The DNA evaluation of the skeletons from Rakhigarhi has helped de-bunk the Aryan Invasion principle because it reveals no traces of ancestry from exterior India.
Archaeologists have discovered traces of the pre-Harappan period as properly, making it each the oldest and the largest web site.
Being an city heart, the heritage web site is surrounded by many different archaeological websites of the significance of its instances.
Fortifications, paved roads, drainage programs, granaries for storage, rainwater assortment mechanisms, terracotta artifacts, and metallic objects in copper, bronze, and gold point out a extremely developed city metropolis. It was additionally on a commerce route linking the west and the east. Weights are like different Indus Valley websites and so are seals.
Statues point out the event of artwork. Searching and fishing instruments have been discovered.
Skeletons had been discovered with heads dealing with North. Feminine skeletons wore shell bangles.
Fireplace Altars level to the follow of worship.
Traces of cotton material have been discovered.
Journey Ideas
- Rakhigarhi could be visited from Hissar or Agroha
- There aren’t any vacationer services. Google Maps will take you there simply
- ASI boards exterior the mounds provide you with ample and genuine info
- The perfect can be to go to when the ASI workforce is finishing up excavations. Nevertheless, I have no idea learn how to join with them to witness the excavation.
- If the positioning will not be open, there may be nothing a lot you’ll see on the web site like we did at RGR-II