Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Lothal’s Maritime Heritage Complex
Why in the News?
PM recently highlighted Lothal’s importance in India’s maritime history as the site of the world’s first dockyard, now home to the National Maritime Heritage Complex under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
About Lothal’s Maritime Heritage Complex:
| Facts about Lothal |
- Dockyard Evidence: Recent IITGn study confirms existence of a dockyard (222 x 37 meters).
- River Shift: Sabarmati River’s old course closer to Lothal during Harappan period, now 20 km away.
- Trade Route: Linked Ahmedabad, Lothal, Nal Sarovar, Little Rann, and Dholavira.
- Satellite Imagery: Revealed ancient channels of Sabarmati River, confirming Lothal’s strategic location.
- Trade Connections: Traders might have used the Gulf of Khambhat, collecting materials from Ratanpura and transporting them to Mesopotamia.
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| Historical Significance |
- Built around: 2200 BC as a major trade center for beads, gems, and ornaments.
- Lothal means “mound of the dead” in Gujarati similar to Mohenjodaro.
- Discovered by S.R. Rao, excavated from 1955 to 1960.
- World’s earliest known dock; connected to the ancient Sabarmati River.
- Nominated as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014; only port-town of the Indus Valley Civilization.
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| Features of the Present Complex |
- Location: Bhal region, Gujarat, India.
- Objective: Showcase India’s 5,000-year-old maritime history, focusing on the first dockyard at Lothal.
- Developed by: Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
- Components: Exhibition halls, maritime park, amphitheater, and educational spaces.
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PYQ:
[2021] Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelling water into connected reservoirs?
(a) Dholavira
(b) Kalibangan
(c) Rakhigarhi
(d) Ropar |
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