Dholavira

Dholavira is an archaeological site located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India. It is one of the largest and most prominent sites of the Harappan civilization, and it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dholavira is located on a low ridge in the Rann of Kutch, about 7 km from the village of Khijri. The site covers an area of about 22 hectares, and it is the largest and most significant site of the Harappan civilization. The name "Dholavira" is derived from the Sanskrit word dhola, meaning "a drum", and the name "Vira" is derived from the Sanskrit word vira, meaning "a hero". Dholavira was first discovered in 1967 by J. P. Joshi, and it was excavated by a team of archaeologists from the Archaeological Survey of India from 1987 to 1992. The excavations revealed that Dholavira was a major city of the Harappan civilization, and it was one of the largest and most important cities of the period. The excavations also revealed a number of significant features of the Harappan civilization, including a city wall, a citadel, a water tank, a drainage system, and a granary. The site has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.