Lothal is a place of tremendous archaeological significance. Lothal, a very ancient city lies about 87 kilometers from Ahmedabad. There was a a full-fledged settlement in Lothal during the the Harappan era that dates back to the 2nd millennium BC. About 82 kilometers from Ahmedabad, you will get the opportunity to see the incredible sight of the world’s oldest urban cultures or Harappan culture in its fullest form.
Lothal lies under the revenue jurisdiction of Sarajwala Village in Dholka Taluka of Ahmedabad District in Gujarat state. In the long past the people of Harappa were attracted towards Lothal because the place had a sheltered harbor and it was a rich cotton-and rice-growing land. Lothal had a famous bead-making industry also.
The ancient city of Lothal was excavated between 1955-1962 and a beautiful Harappan culture site was discovered. Apart from the excavation site of Lothal, the place consists of a museum that displays all the archaeological findings. The museums in Lothal is open between 10 am to 5 pm, from Saturday to Thursdays.
At the museum of Lothal, you will find finger rings, bangles, other shell and terracotta ornaments, more than 200 seals, etc. In the seals found in Lothal you will get portrayed animals like mythical unicorn, elephant, mountain goat, tiger and the mythical elephant bull. The people also seemed to worship fire god and did animal sacrifice. The sacrificial altars found in the site prove the point.
The harbor of the excavated Lothal site now lies about 20 kilometrs from the navigable Sabarmati. On close observation, you will find boundary wall outside the town of Lothal and the dwellings were built on a high platform of sun dried bricks. Such structure reveals that the builders of that period made such structure to escape flood. The excavation site of Lothal shows a planned city with underground drainage system, wells and paved streets.
