Indus Valley Civilization: Map, Major Sites, Rivers & Key Facts

The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also known as the Harappan Civilization, was one of the three earliest urban civilizations in the world, alongside Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.

This Bronze Age civilization flourished in the northwestern regions of South Asia from around 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. It developed along the fertile plains of the Indus River and its tributaries, extending from present-day northeast Afghanistan to Pakistan and western India.

In this article, we explore the major sites of the Harappan Civilization, highlighting their key features, associated rivers, present-day locations, and providing a free downloadable PDF map.

Basic Details of the Civilization

Time Period:

• Early Harappan Phase: 3300-2600 BCE
• Mature Harappan Phase: 2600-1900 BCE (Peak period)
• Late Harappan Phase: 1900-1300 BCE

Discovery and Recognition:

• Charles Masson was the first to discover the ruins of Harappa in the late 1820s.
• First formally announced in 1924 by John Marshall, an English archaeologist who was Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1902 to 1928.
• Major excavations began with Daya Ram Sahni at Harappa (1921) and R.D. Banerjee at Mohenjo-daro (1922).

Did You Know?

The Indus Valley Civilization is also referred to as the Harappan Civilization, as Harappa was the first site to be excavated in 1921.

Geographical Extent:

The following are the geographical extremities of the known sites of the Indus Valley Civilization:

• West: Sutkagan Dor (Balochistan, Pakistan)
• East: Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh, India)
• South: Daimabad (Maharashtra, India)
• North: Manda (Jammu & Kashmir, India)
• Shortugai in northeastern Afghanistan is sometimes considered the northernmost site, but it was primarily a trading outpost for lapis lazuli (a semi-precious stone).

Major Rivers:

• Indus River: Primary river system that gave the civilization its name.
• Ghaggar-Hakra River: Ancient river system, possibly the mythical Saraswati.
• Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab and other tributaries: Supported various settlements.

Key Characteristics:

• Advanced urban planning with grid-pattern streets.
• Sophisticated drainage and water management systems.
• Standardized weights, measures, and brick sizes.
• Undeciphered script system.
• Extensive trade networks reaching Mesopotamia and Central Asia.

Major Sites of the Harappan Civilization

The major Harappan sites are listed below along with their official year of discovery, excavator, current geographical location, and associated river or water source.They are grouped into two categories:

• Sites in present-day Pakistan & Afghanistan
• Sites in present-day India

Please note that the key features of each site are provided after the table.

Sites in Present-Day Pakistan & Afghanistan

Key features of each of the above sites are given below:

1. Harappa

• First excavated site of the IVC
• Citadel and lower town layout with baked brick structures.
• Large granary, fortified walls, and standardized weights.
• Evidence of coffin burials

2. Mohenjo-daro

• Great Bath and advanced urban drainage system.
• Granary, pillared assembly halls, and private wells.
• Bronze Dancing Girl statue
• Steatite statue of a beard man
• Pashupati seal, Unicorn seals
• a UNESCO World Heritage Site

3. Sutkagan Dor

• Westernmost known site near Iran border and Arabian Sea.
• Fortified with watchtowers.
• Trade post with Mesopotamia through maritime links.

4. Amri

• Evidence of pre-Harappan and early Harappan cultures.
• Fortified structures, coarse pottery, and early farming tools.

5. Chanhudaro

• Only major IVC site without a citadel.
• Specialised in craft production—especially beads, seals, weights.

6. Kot Diji

• Located on the east bank of the Indus River opposite Mohenjo-daro.
• Fortified settlement with early Harappan cultural phase.

7. Ganweriwala

• Large, unexcavated urban center

8. Balakot

• Coastal site with shell-processing units.
• Earliest evidence of furnace
• Close to modern-day Karachi.

9. Shortugai

• Northern trade outpost of IVC near lapis lazuli mines.
• Harappan weights, seals, and pottery found.

Major Harappan Sites in India

1. Ropar

• the first Harappan site of Independent India
• it is also known as Rupnagar
• Cemetery H culture; early Harappan remains

2. Kalibangan

• Unique discovery of ploughed agricultural field—world’s earliest.
• Fire altars and sacrificial platforms indicating ritual practices.
• “Kalibangan” literally means black bangles
• abundance of terracotta bangles found

3. Lothal

• a port city with tidal dockyard connected to a river.
• bead factory, Double burial and warehouse found.
• Strategic for maritime trade with Mesopotamia.

4. Daimabad

• Southernmost known IVC site.
• Bronze sculptures found – Chariot, bull, elephant
• Shows IVC’s influence in Deccan region.
• Late Harappan Phase

5. Alamgirpur

• Easternmost known site of the IVC.
• Terracotta figurines, bangles, and typical Harappan pottery

6. Desalpur

• Massive stone fortification
• Harappan pottery
• three script-bearing seals; one of steatite, one of copper and one of terracotta

7. Surkotada

• Fortified settlement between the Sabarmati and Bhogavo rivers.
• Horse bones found
• Late Harappan phase settlement.
• Located near Rann of Kutch.

8. Dholavira

• Three-part city plan: citadel, middle town, and lower town.
• World’s earliest known water management system using reservoirs and channels.
• only site with evidence of urban zoning and reservoirs.
• Stone architecture instead of bricks; large signboard with Harappan script.
• The Tropic of Cancer passes through this site
• a UNESCO World Heritage Site

9. Rakhigarhi

• the largest known Harappan city.
• Human skeletons with DNA sampling providing genetic insights.
• Fire altars, apsidal structures, and sacrificial pits
• Artifacts and craft specialization, burial practices

10. Banawali

• Fortified town with a massive defence wall
• fire altars and apsidal structures, indicating ritualistic or religious activities
• well-developed drainage system
• pottery and bead manufacturing
• Rich in seals, terracotta figurines, and standard weights.

11. Bhagwanpura

• Transitional site between Late Harappan and Painted Grey Ware (Vedic).
• early Vedic continuities
• Fortified settlement with burnt bricks.

12. Manda

• located in the foothills of Pir Panjal range
• Northernmost known IVC site (excluding Shortugai)
• Trade outpost for timber from Himalayas

13. Kuntasi

• Minor Port and industrial site near Gulf of Kutch.
• Dock and storage structures found

14. Nageshwar

• Specialized in shell bangle production.
• Located close to the Arabian Sea.
• Coastal craft center; terracotta and shell objects.

15. Farmana

• Rich cemetery yielding 60+ burials
• signs of social stratification
• clear evidence of planned urban development
• one of the best-documented Harappan cemeteries.