RAS question
Which Indus Valley site is located in India and has a unique water management system with large reservoirs?
Correct answer: (D) Dholavira.
Dholavira, in Gujarat's Kutch district, is the Indus Valley site in India known for its sophisticated water management system and series of large reservoirs.
Explanation
Dholavira is the right answer because it is an Indian Harappan site in Gujarat specifically associated with advanced water management. UNESCO describes Dholavira as a Harappan city on the arid island of Khadir in Gujarat, where water was scarce and two seasonal streams supplied the walled city. Its urban plan included a fortified city, streets and houses, and a sophisticated water management system that showed how the inhabitants adapted to a harsh environment. In its Outstanding Universal Value statement, UNESCO notes a series of reservoirs to the east and south of the citadel. This water conservation system distinguishes Dholavira from other Indus Valley sites. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Kalibangan is associated with fire altars and ploughed fields, not with the series of large reservoirs and water management system associated with Dholavira.
- (B) Ropar is known as the first Indus Valley site excavated after independence; it is not known for a series of large reservoirs.
- (C) Rakhigarhi is known as the largest Indus Valley site in India; Dholavira, by contrast, is specifically known for its large reservoirs and water management system.
Concept
For RAS, study major Indus Valley sites by linking each site to its location and distinctive archaeological features. Dholavira is a common example because questions pair the site's location with its defining feature.