Mohenjo-daro

Mohenjo-daro, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the southern province of Sindh, is one of the most important archaeological sites on earth, the astonishingly well-preserved ruins of one of the world's earliest and greatest cities. Built around 2500 BCE by the sophisticated Indus Valley Civilisation, this vast metropolis of baked brick reveals a startlingly advanced urban society, with a meticulous grid of streets, remarkable covered drainage and sewerage, wells, granaries and the enigmatic Great Bath. Abandoned and lost for millennia, it stands as a haunting testament to a mysterious ancient civilisation.

History

Mohenjo-daro was built around 2500 BC, one of the largest cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation and among the world's earliest, contemporary with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia; with at least 40,000 people it prospered for several centuries but was abandoned by about 1700 BC, along with the other great Indus cities. Its original name is unknown, though Iravatham Mahadevan has suggested from a seal that it may have been Kukkutarma, the city of the cockerel, and its modern Sindhi name is read as mound of the dead. The site was rediscovered in the 1920s and excavated extensively, and in 1980 it became the first World Heritage Site in South Asia; erosion and poor restoration now threaten it (Wikipedia, Mohenjo-daro).

The main sights

• The Great Bath - the enigmatic large ancient water tank.
• The planned streets - the remarkable grid and brick architecture.
• The drainage system - the astonishingly advanced sewerage.
• The site museum - the artefacts of the Indus Valley culture.

When to go

November to February, the cool winter months, are essential, as the Sindh plains are among the hottest places on earth in summer, with brutal heat; even in winter, midday can be warm, so morning visits are best. The site is remote, reached from Larkana by road or a domestic flight.

Good to know

It is remote, in interior Sindh far from other attractions, and much of the fragile brick city faces serious threats from salt, erosion and the elements, so parts are weathered and some imagination is needed to grasp its former scale. Facilities are basic and the heat outside winter fierce. For anyone fascinated by ancient history, though, standing amid one of humanity's first great planned cities is a profound and unforgettable experience.

Nearby

The city of Larkana and the Sindh heartland surround it.

Key facts