The Lost Cities of India

Once upon a time these cities were the power hubs of ancient civilizations or prosperous centres under medieval kings. However, no matter how high and mighty, everyone has to bow before time. Today, these cities are shadows of their past but still beckon to the curious traveller.

Pic credit: Arian Zwegers

Vijaya Nagara

Probably the most famous ruins of a city in India, the ruins of the once mighty Vijayanagara empire, with Hampi at its centerstage, had more than 500,000 inhabitants in it in its heyday, making it twice the size of Paris and the second largest city in the world after Peking-Beijing. The ruins are a world heritage site now.

Poompuhar

Puhar or Poompuhar is a town in Tamil Nadu and was once a flourishing ancient port city known as Kaveri puhum pattinam, which for a while served as the capital of the early Chola kings in Tamilakkam. 7th century texts have described the town as a thriving city with many high rise buildings and also a city where the coronation of the Chola kings was held from time to time.

Muziris

Muciri in native Tamil, was an ancient seaport and urban centre in south-western India that existed from 1st century AD. The port connected trade between South Indians and the Phoenicians, the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Roman Empire. The exact location of Muziris is still not known to the historians and archaeologists and it is assumed to be situated around present day Cragancore, 18 miles north of Cochin in Kerala.

Pic credit: Wiki Commons

Lothal

At the height of its glory, Lothal in Gujarat, was one of the most prominent cities of the Ancient Indus valley civilisation with its trade of beads, gems and valuable ornaments reaching the far corners of West Asia and Africa. The city also pioneered techniques in bead making and metallurgy. Lothal also boasts of the world's earliest known dock.

Pic credit: Wiki Commons

Kalibangan

Another place that contains both Pre-Harappan and Harappan remains, Kalibangan is a small town on the southern bank of the Ghaggar river in Rajasthan. The excavation report of Kalibangan states that it was a major provincial capital of the Indus Valley civilization. It has the world's earliest known ploughed field.

Pic credit: Shutterstock

Dwarka

Can the perfectly geometric ruins of a vast city submerged off the Gulf Of Cambay in Gujarat be the legendary ancient kingdom of Lord Krishna? Dwarka, one of the chardhams or four Hindu sacred pilgrim sites is supposed to be one of the most ancient religious cities in the country. According to legend, Lord Krishna built this city and it was submerged after his death.

Pic credit: Wiki Commons

Pattadakal

A world heritage site in Karnataka, it is also an important tourist site today known for monuments dating from the Chalukyan times.

Pic credit: Archaeological Survey of India

Dholavira

Locally known as Kotada timba, Dholavira is an archaelogical site in the state of Gujarat which contains the ruins of an ancient Indus Valley Civilization city. The site was occupied from c.2650 BCE, declining slowly after about 2100 BCE. It was briefly abandoned and reoccupied until c.1450 BCE.