The architecture of the Indus Valley Civilization was very unique. The architecture during this time was used for the purpose of functions and not for beauty or decoration.

The two major sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation, along the Indus river – the cities of Harappa in the north and Mohenjodaro in the south—showcase one of earliest examples of civic planning. Other markers of architecture were houses, markets, storage facilities, offices, public baths, etc., arranged in a grid-like pattern. There was also a highly developed drainage system. Lessons from the urban planning and cultural aspects of Indus Valley Civilisation

The Harappan culture was distinguished by its system of town planning on the lines of the grid system – that is, streets and lanes cutting across one another almost at right angles, thus dividing the city into several rectangular blocks. Urban planning and culture in the Indus Valley Civilization

Many of the cities of the Indus Valley civilization were divided into two or more parts: the citadel and the lower town. It is believed that the citadel was a fortified settlement and comprised of some chief structures, such as the great bath and the warehouse, while the lower town consisted of houses and workshops. Only 6 citadels have been found, showing that only priests or higher classes used to live there.
Indus Valley streets and roads were straight and cutting each other at a right angle. The roads were built using burnt bricks. Mohenjo-daro : an example of a planned urban centre

The drainage system of Indus Valley civilization connected all houses to the street drains, which were covered by stone slabs or bricks. Houses with single, double, and more rooms attached with a very good drainage system were found in many of the sites of the Indus Valley.

At burials in Harappan sites, the dead were generally laid in pits. Some graves contain pottery and ornaments, indicating a belief that these could be used in the afterlife. Jewellery has been found in burials of both men and women.

Significance

In many ways, this culture serves as an exceptional model for the modern world. The Harappans were unmatched experts in drainage systems, water harvesting and management systems, and town planning. This laid the foundations for present-day urban planning.

The perfection of the drainage system and the private bathrooms in every home show how important cleanliness and hygiene were to the Harappans. As a result, the Harappan civilisation laid the groundwork for both individual and societal hygiene in urban planning.

Must read: Harappan society

Decline of the Indus Valley Civilization

External link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley_Civilisation

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUES . Write about the chief features of the town planning in Indus Valley Civilisation. UPSC 1996