DHOLAVIRA : 

  INTRODUCTION:- 

                      The earliest civilization of South Asia is known as Indus Valley Civilization because a large number of sites were discovered in the Indus valley. Some archaeologists have called it the Harappan civilization named after Harappa, the 1st discovered site. It flourished during the 3rd-2nd millennium BCE. It ranks four amongst widely known civilizations of the world and covers area larger than any other civilizations.
                               

    DHOLAVIRA:- 

                         It's one of the largest Harappan sites and most prominent archaeological sites in India belonging to Indus valley civilization, spreading over 100 ha along with the cemetery.It's located in the Kachchh district of Gujarat. The site was first excavated in 1967-1968 by Jagat Pati Joshi second excavation was started by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the direction of  R. s. Bisht (1989-1991).
                          The city is parallelogram in plan, outlined by massive wall. On the both sides of the city wall there was a provision of broad roads running all around. On the basis of their relative location, planning, defence and architecture......the settlement has been tentatively divided into- citadel, middle town and lower town. Citadel and Middle town has its own defence system, gateway, street, wells and large open space. While the lower town did not have its own fortification wall but it lies within the common fortification wall of the city.

★  CITADEL:- It was established in the southern part of the city. The citadel mound was about 300 m EW and 160 m NS. It consists of two fortified subdivisions: 'castle' on the east and 'bailey' on the west. To the north of the citadel, a broad and long area provided a ground for community gatherings or also referred as Ceremonial ground.

★MIDDLE TOWN:-  To the north of the Ceremonial ground, middle town was raised. Total area was 350 m EW and 250 m NS.

★LOWER TOWN:- It's located on the east side of the site. Total area covers is 300 m * 300 m.

                                      These three major built-up makes an L-shaped design altogether. Outer fortification wall was made up of mud bricks. At places near gates, stone facing has been provided on the inner face to provide more strength. Total area occupied was 1771.10 m^2 .
                                     One of the characteristic features of Dholavira is water reservoirs.There are altogether 16 reservoirs and only two have been excavated. 20% of the area was used for the management of water. The site represents the best example of hydrolic engineering of water management.
                                     Another important discovery was the presence of engraved inscription of ten large sized Indus script and other is the fragment of large seals with three large signs.
                                Funerary structures is another important feature throwing light on the socio religious practices and believe.

                                   

                                     

               Pictures provided by my senior Vishal Sikaria and my friend Anubhav Mukherjee.

Rajagriha

RAJAGRIHA OR RAJGIR:- 

                               Rajagriha (25°2' N ; 85°26' E) is often referred as Girivraja, Barhadrathapura, kusagrapura. It's located about 100 km to the south east of Patnna (present capital city of  Bihar), Nalanda district . Rajagriha was the ancient capital city which represents the early historic urbanization, emerging strongly towards the middle of the 1st millennium Bc in the gangetic plains. The city's name is mentioned in Mahabharata, Buddhist texts like ' Mahaparinibbanasutta'of Digha Nikaya, and even Chinese pilgrims. According to the Buddhist literature the Magadhan kings ruling Rajgir at the time of Buddha were Bimbisara and Ajatasatru.


                     According to the Chinese pilgrim Xuan Zang, Rajagriha lies north to the valley, out in plain. He also says that the site is divided into old and new Rajagriha.Old Rajagriha is surrounded by a girdle of 5 low hills called as Baibhar-giri, Vipula-giri, Ratna-giri, Uday-giri, and Sona-giri. The city has dual fortification system : old fortification system and new fortification system.


                        Old fortification system is one of the architectural marvels of ancient India. It's commonly termed as Cyclopean wall. This wall runs all along the 5 hills and across the valley. The wall strengthened the city's defence. The wall was made up of massive undressed stone blocks ranging between 1 m and 1.5 m or more. The maximum height of the wall is about 3.65 m , found mostly on the either side of the Banganga pass. The thickness of the wall is quite uneven. Unfortunately, in some places the traces of the rock is completely lost. The wall is strengthened by bastions, which are rectangular in plan. Another important features of this fortification is Ramps and Watch Towers.
                   

               Inner fortification was made up compactly with stone rubbles . It was discovered by kittoe in 1847. It was probably build to protect the core of the city.
                     

                  A small excavation was carried out by Ghost in 1950 at the north eastern end of the valley. He showed the evidence of roads. Pottery sherds found through excavation was mainly NBPW , wheel made and almost totally unpainted. Other finds include terracotta animal and bird figurines, female figurine , terracotta beads, and a plain double-convex toy wheel.

   CHRONOLOGY on the basis of excavation done by Ghosh:

        Pd 1.    Earlier than the 5th c BC
        Pd 2.    5th c BC (or earlier) to 2nd c BC
        Pd 3.    1st c BC
        Pd 4.    1 st c AD

HANGSESHWARI TEMPLE AND ANARTA BASUDEVA TEMPLE

HANGSESHWARI TEMPLE AND  ANARTA BASUDEVA TEMPLE:-

                               

LOCATION:- 

                     Hangseshwari Temple Complex is located at a distance of about 10 km from Hooghly and about 50 km from Kolkata, in Bansberia.Bansberia is located besides river Ganga, and it's situated in between Tribeni and Bandel.This beautiful complex maintained with gardens. The temple complex consists of two temples, namely Ananta Basudeba Temple and Hangseshwari Temple, which is the most significant one.The time when the temple was constructed, Nawab Shayesta Khan was ruling Bengal.

HANGSESHWARI TEMPLE:-

                    The temple is standing on a raised platform. As soon we enter the temple, the temple dalan has a mud cluster, worshiped by people, surrounded by an iron railings. From outside we can see the main door of garbhagriha where the main deity is located, just before that white marble shiva linga in present beneath the floor and is worshiped. All the four side of the temple has shiva linga . The entry of the garbhagriha is beautifully decorated along with the the ceilings. The inner chamber is connected to the domes through narrow passage ways.Entry is restricted for tourists, as according to locals many people got lost in them.
                      Raja Nrisimhadeva Rai started the construction of this temple in 1799. It is said that the king built this temple after he was instructed by Goddess Hangseshwari in a dream.Rani Hanseswari was the mother of Raja Nrisingha Deb Roy, hence the deity is worshipped as Maa Hanseswari.
                      The temple was made of stone and bricks.The temple is of 'Ratna' type and has 13 ratnas arranged in five-storey. The shikharas are conical in shape and depicting an image of lotus petal. The temple was building on 'kundalini and yogic concepts', architecturally it represents " Tantrik Satchakrabhed ".
                       The body of Hangseswari godess (form of goddess kali) blue in colour which is made up of neem wood, has four arms and is seated on a lotus having it's stalk coming out of the navel of a mahadeva. The goddess is standing on her right leg- resting the left leg on her right thigh. The upper left hand is carrying a sword , the lower left hand is carrying a head of a demon; the upper right palm is posed in Abhaya Mudra whereas the lower right hand is in Bar-Mudra.
                       The five storied temple represents the five different parts of Human body, such as : Bajraksha, Ira, Chitrini, Pingala and Sushumna. It also shows the influence of European architecture.
                       About one lakh rupees or more was spent on marbles brought from Chunar situated near Benaras (Varanasi, U.P). Unfortunately the King died in the year 1802 in the midway of construction of the temple. His widowed queen Shankari took the initiative and completed the construction of the temple in the year 1814.

                                 

                                         

   
                                       

ANARTA BASUDEBA TEMPLE:-

           Just beside Hungseshwari temple , connected to it lies the anarta basudeba temple. It was built by Raja Mahasai Raneshwar Dutta Rai. In 1679. He was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. The deity is bluish in colour. The temple is 'ekratna' in plan and has octagonal pinnacle over the humped roof of the temple which has arched openings on all it's sides.The temple is standing on a raised platform. There are triple - arched facade on the east and southern side of the temple. Whole temple wall is decorated with panels of terracotta plaques, depicting war scenes, soldiers in ships, life of Krishna, gods and goddesses, animals, fight between rama and ravana, floral designs,etc.
       
                               

                    Next to the temples are the remainings of the Duttaroy palace, which are now fully in ruined state.