QUE: “Among the cities found in the Indus Valley Civilization, Mohenjo-Daro was the best in terms of town planning.” Discuss.

The Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1900 BC) is one of the oldest and most developed urban civilizations in the world, with the remains of cities like Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Lothal, Kalibangan and Dholavira. Of these, Mohenjo-Daro (in the Sindh province of Pakistan) is considered the best in terms of town planning, as it has grid-patterned roads, an excellent drainage system, a great bathhouse and a large town system. The city was discovered in 1922 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Mohenjo-Daro – How is it the best in terms of town planning?

The planning of Mohenjo-daro was highly systematic and scientific, which also challenged other civilizations of the time (such as Mesopotamia and Egypt):

Roads in a grid pattern: The city was divided into straight and parallel roads in the north-south and east-west directions, which were about 9-12 meters wide. These roads intersect each other at an angle of 90 degrees, which is similar to modern city planning. This arrangement facilitates air circulation and transportation. This is also seen in other cities, but in Mohenjo-daro it is more spacious and well-organized.

Water drainage and sanitation system: The most amazing feature of this city is its underground sewage system, which had covered drains and manholes made of bricks. Every house had a bathroom and a toilet, which were connected to the sewer. This system was effective even in floods and rains. This is also seen in other cities, but it is more extensive and advanced in Mohenjo-daro.

Great Bath: This city had a 12 m long and 7 m wide bath made of waterproof bricks, with a system of water supply and drainage. It was used for religious and social purposes. Other cities do not have such a large facility.

Citadel and Lower Town: The city was divided into the upper citadel (administration and religious center) and the lower town (residential area). The citadel had granaries and assembly halls. This division made security and administration easier.

Standardized bricks and construction: All the houses in this city were made of baked bricks made in the ratio of 4:2:1, which makes the construction strong and uniform.

Comparison and superiority with other cities: Harappa is also organized, but Mohenjo-daro is larger (250 hectares) and more advanced. Lothal has a dockyard, but the drainage is not as complex as Mohenjo-daro. Dholavira has a water system, but the planning of Mohenjo-daro is more extensive and centralized. The superiority of this city lies in its organized organization and cleanliness, which inspires modern city planning. Thus, Mohenjo-daro is the best in terms of planning among the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, because it shows a scientific and practical approach.