A Living Textbook | 10 Reasons Why Dholavira Matters Today

At first, I struggled to find an answer. As I walked through the remnants of what was once a thriving urban center, I realized that Dholavira serves as a key to understanding who we are. They are the foundation upon which we stand today.

Without the development of early systems—water management, urban planning, trade networks—our modern civilization would not exist. It is easy to take for granted the infrastructure that makes our daily lives possible, but Dholavira’s ancient inhabitants already understood the importance of water conservation, drainage systems, and even urban zoning. Their ability to trade with distant lands and live in harmony with nature laid the groundwork for the complex societies we now build upon.

Dholavira is more than just an archaeological site; it is a bridge to our identity. Without it—and others like it—our understanding of our heritage would be incomplete. It’s through these places that we glimpse the intelligence, creativity, and resilience of our ancestors, and gain insights into the cultural and technological evolution of humanity.

One of the most significant realizations I had during my visit was the sense of continuity that connects us with the past. Just like a business passed down from one generation to the next, each generation of humans builds on the innovations and mistakes of the ones before. Take modern business, for example. The first generation may struggle to establish the business, but by the third or fourth generation, the legacy evolves into something far grander—perhaps even global.

Similarly, human civilization has evolved from the rudimentary technologies and social structures of places like Dholavira. What we take for granted today—global trade, urbanization, and even cultural exchange—was already being practiced thousands of years ago.

Dholavira is not just a relic of the past, but a living textbook that introduces us to the bedrock of human civilization. It speaks to us about art, culture, technology, and even economics. The city’s designs of its houses, the toys and jewelry unearthed at the site—they all serve as clues to understanding how people lived, how they interacted with the environment, and how they made sense of their world.

I found myself reflecting deeply on these questions: How are we living now, and how will future generations live? Are we truly progressing, or are we merely recycling the same ideas, just as fashion trends and music styles tend to recycle every couple of decades? In some ways, I began to see that our “advancements” are not so different from what came before. The essence remains the same; only the surface has changed.

As a citizen of Gujarat, India, visiting Dholavira felt like a personal connection to one of the key birthplaces of human civilization. This site is not just an archaeological discovery; it is a Dastavej—a document that binds us to the origins of human society. The deep history that lies beneath the stones of Dholavira reminds us of our rich cultural legacy and responsibility to preserve it for generations to come.

While Mohenjo-daro, located in Pakistan, is difficult to explore and has often been popularized through movies and documentaries, Dholavira offers the opportunity to experience history in person. It is a place where you can feel the weight of the past, imagine how it might have been, and uncover layers of history right here in India. The experience is entirely different—the tactile feel of stone under your fingers, the unique energy of the place, and the discussions and debates it sparks. These are the elements that make Dholavira unforgettable. We often mistakenly think that cultural and heritage sites are only for artists or architects, but Dholavira is for anyone who wishes to engage intellectually with the past, appreciate human ingenuity, and enrich their understanding of life.

Majority of us are acutely aware of the importance of preserving our heritage. Dholavira—and sites like it—are not just places for tourists to visit and take selfies. They are precious markers of our identity, holding the key to understanding how we evolved and where we are headed. Without the preservation of such sites, we risk losing a fundamental connection to our collective past.

This responsibility is not just an academic or professional duty but a moral one. We honor the traditions and cultures of the past not only as a form of admiration, but also as an act of respect toward future generations. By preserving Dholavira, we ensure that future generations have a chance to understand how their ancestors lived, labored, and innovated, laying the groundwork for the smart work we now take for granted.

The infrastructure and resources now in place for tourists at Dholavira, like the one I stayed at, Evoke Dholavira (https://www.evokedholavira.com/) , allowed for a deeper engagement with the site. The peaceful environment, well-guided tour, courteous hospitality, and delicious food provided the perfect setting to reflect on the history I had just experienced. In that sense, the resort itself became a vital part of the journey—offering not just comfort and warmth, but the space to process and contemplate the enormity of what I had learned.

Excavation at Dholavira began in 1990 under the leadership of RS Bisht, continuing until 2005. To date, only 20% of the site has been uncovered, revealing priceless artifacts and insights into a civilization long gone. For me, Dholavira is not just a collection of ruins but the very seeds of human and future civilization. Imagine if our ancestors hadn’t built such cities—perhaps we would still be figuring out how to build homes or how to design drainage systems and conserve water.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Dholavira is how our ancestors worked in harmony with nature. They integrated nature into their way of life, and as a result, their constructions have endured for over 4,000 years. We may consider them hard workers, but today, we focus on “smart work” with expensive, non-sustainable construction that harms the environment. Our modern buildings, designed with no regard for nature, often don’t last even a century. Our ancestors, however, respected nature. We, on the other hand, abuse it.

If the world were to collapse, it would be difficult to trace the materials and planning used in our current buildings. But Dholavira offers a blueprint for the future. The use of natural materials, sustainable planning, and deep respect for the environment can guide us forward when everything else is lost.

Dholavira is like a living textbook of life—teaching us what to do, when to do it, and how to live as a civilization. It offers timeless lessons on heritage, culture, and sustainability—on how to preserve nature, conserve water, engage in trade, and much more. The achievements of those who developed Dholavira are the very reasons we can enjoy the benefits of civilization today.

For everyone, those interested in LIFE, a visit to Dholavira is a must. It is a chance to connect with our ancestors, to understand the ways in which they thought, lived, and innovated. More importantly, it is an opportunity to reflect on how we, as a modern society, are carrying forward the legacy of human civilization.

Sites like Dholavira offer us a unique opportunity to connect the dots between the past, the present, and the future, to learn from the mistakes and triumphs of our ancestors, and to ensure that their wisdom and achievements are not forgotten.

For me, this journey to Dholavira was an eye-opening experience. It was a reminder of the importance of heritage, not just as something to admire from afar, but as a living, breathing entity that connects us all. I am grateful for the chance to have witnessed it, and I urge everyone to make the pilgrimage to this extraordinary site. It is a trip that will change you, just as it changed me.