Kalibangan

Kalibangan is an archaeological site in northern Rajasthan associated with the Indus Valley (Harappan) civilisation, located on the banks of the now-intermittent Ghaggar river system. It comprises a prominent citadel mound, a lower town and several distinctive cultural features excavated by archaeologists.

Excavated areas show a grid-like street plan, fired-brick houses, and ritual installations such as fire altars; some trench data have been interpreted as evidence for early ploughed agricultural plots. The site represents both Early Harappan and Mature Harappan occupation phases and is important for understanding regional urban development.

Major excavations were carried out in the mid-20th century, revealing the settlement’s layout and material culture and leading to its identification as an important Harappan urban centre. Finds from Kalibangan have informed reconstructions of Indus urbanism and agriculture.

Kalibangan sits in northern Rajasthan, in a dry plain area that was formerly served by tributaries of the ancient Ghaggar-Hakra river system, and is accessible from regional towns in the Sri Ganganagar/Hanumangarh area.

• Chronology: Occupied in the Early and Mature Harappan periods, with material spanning roughly the 3rd to 2nd millennium BCE.
• Excavation highlights: Excavations in the 1960s revealed planned streets, fired-brick architecture and ritual structures including fire altars.

What to See #

• Citadel mound: The raised citadel mound showing evidence of town planning and brick structures from the Mature Harappan period.
• Lower town: Lower town and residential areas with remains of streets, fired-brick housing and craft zones from multiple occupation phases.
• Ploughed-field remains: Areas interpreted by excavators as ancient agricultural plots, often cited as evidence for early ploughed fields in South Asia.