DHOLAVIRA: The 40th Treasure in India


by Mahi Tewari


Located in the Kutch district of Gujrat, Dholavira has finally attained the status of being the part of UNESCO World Heritage list. It is the first site of Indus Valley Civilisation in India (the majority of Harappan cities are located in Pakistan and Afganistan ) to be included on the coveted list and with its inclusion India has entered the Super-40 club for World Heritage Site inscriptions. Other countries with this title are China, Germany, France, etc.

 

Now, India has 40 world heritage properties: 32 cultural, 7 natural, and one mixed property. Gujarat alone has a total of four World Heritage Sites now. The other three are Champaner near Pavagadh, Rani ki Vav in Patan and Ahmedabad. The site was discovered in 1967-68 by J.P. Joshi of the Archaeological Survey of India and is the fifth largest of eight major Harappan sites. Dholavira is one of the most prominent archaeological sites in India belonging to Harappan culture, dating back to 4500 years. It has passed through the seven essential stages of civilization.

 

Dholavira is unique among other sites because of its water management system, multi-layered defensive mechanisms, extensive use of stone in construction, and special burial structures. It reportedly has one of the world’s earliest water conservation systems ever excavated. The phase of severe aridity due to climate change and rivers like Saraswati drying up was a catalyst for the decline of this place. Drought leads to further migration of the people.

 


Earlier at the ongoing online meeting of World Heritage Committee, Telangana’s 13th Century Ramappa Temple got UNESCO World Heritage Site Status with a consensus of 17 countries backing the move ensured the inscription of the site. This is a great matter of pride for all Indians as most sites included in this coveted list belong to western civilization and European architecture.

 

A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by UNESCO. But what benefits Dholavira and Ramappa Temple will have after this recognition?

 

Being listed as a World Heritage Site can positively affect the site, its environment, and interactions between them. A listed site gains international recognition and legal protection and can obtain funds from among others the World Heritage Fund to facilitate its conservation under certain conditions. It brings prestige and public awareness, and it can lead to all sorts of good things: tourism revenue, renewed commitments to preserve irreplaceable assets, and public and private funding for restoration work.

 

This is a huge win for the Indian Ministry of Culture who had nominated these sites.

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