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Discovering the Spirit of Lothal
Lothal is one among the several iconic places of Indus Valley Civilisation, visited during bike ride along the coastal route map of India.
The author visits Lothal during a coastal bike ride in Gujarat. The well-preserved excavation reveals a city with advanced urban planning, sanitation, and a deep respect for nature. Lothal, a potential UNESCO World Heritage site, offers a glimpse into the ingenuity of one of the world's oldest civilizations.
BOOK EXCERPT
The Coastal Diaries:
City of the Dead
Catch a glimpse of the mesmerizing trip highlights!
Lothal: City of the dead
Excerpt from the book:
One of the oldest of its kind known to man is the Indus Valley Civilisation, which existed around 4500 years (2500 BC) ago. We can compare it to other ancient civilisations of Egypt, Mesopotamia and China of that period. Archeologists carried out excavations at Harappa and Mohenjodaro, both based in present-day Pakistan. The remains unearthed in the year 1920 pointed to well-developed cities flourishing in the region.
Urban Planning and Sanitation
Excerpt from the book:
The artefacts excavated at these sites suggest the ancient towns and cities were thoughtfully designed and built accordingly. The excavations showed streets and roads to be laid in cardinal directions. Attention was paid to town planning, development of sanitation facilities, water regulation and civic management. The settlers constructed bathrooms inside the home premises, but had outside drainage systems and waterways, the likes of which were seen only 2000 years later in Rome. They gave extreme importance to cleanliness and orderliness in their daily living…………….
Journey to Lothal
Excerpt from the book:
An opportunity came knocking for us to visit Lothal during the Bharat Mala coastal bike tour while travelling from Bhavnagar to Baroda in Gujarat. Driving from the main highway and following the road signs, we passed through a pastoral landscape. Having read about the Indus Valley civilisation, I was interested in visiting Lothal to try and understand the ideologies. The reverence and love depicted for Nature and various creatures, cleanliness in the lifestyle and respect for trees and animals intrigued me and I was keen to take a look at the site.
Lothal Location and Access
Excerpt from the book:
Lothal is 85 km from Ahmedabad and the nearest cities to it are Dholka and Bagodara. Travelling by train, it is six km southeast of Lothal Bhurkhi railway station on the Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar line. It has a pending nomination as a World Heritage site of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).
First Impression!
Excerpt from the book:
Nearing the site, we noticed scanty vegetation and dry fields. Leaving the bike in a makeshift parking space, we saw that a boundary wall circled the excavated site and a few buildings to the right of it. One building held a museum showcasing the artefacts unearthed during the excavation. The site was preserved and in excellent condition. A small entrance fee is charged for entering the museum, but the excavation site has free entry…………..
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