On the west bank of the Indus, 580 kms from Karachi, lies Moenjodaro (Mound of the Dead), an archaeological site which has been rated amongst the most spectacular of the world’s ancient cities. Considered one of the earliest and most developed of urban civilizations. Moenjodaro flourished from the third to the middle of the second millennium B.C., when it vanished, leaving only traces of its culture. Moenjodaro, along with Harappa (Punjab province) some 1280 kms away – formed part of the Indus Valley civilization and it is now generally believed that these were the cities, referred to in the Rigveda that were destroyed by the Aryan invaders.

The urban planning at Moenjodaro was pragmatic and at a high level. Its main thoroughfares were some 91 m wide and were crossed by straight streets that formed blocks 364m in length and 182/273m in width. The walls of the city’s baked mud bricked houses were designed to ensure the safety of its occupants so that in times of earth quakes the structures collapse outwards. It had an elaborate covered drainage system, soak pits for disposal bins, a state granary, a large and imposing building that could have been a palace and a citadel mound with solid burnt-brick towers on its margin. Judging from the remains, the Great Hall was probably the most striking of its structures, comprising an open quadrangle with verandahs of four sides galleries and rooms at the back, a number of halls, and a large bathing pool perhaps used for religious or ceremonial bathing.

Close to the archeological site is the Moenjodaro Museum that houses finds from the excavations. These include, amongst other things, engraved seals, ornaments, utensils, pottery, weapons, figurines and toys.