Question

town planning of the Harappan civilization​

Answer 1

Answer:

The town planning in the Harappan Civilisation was inspired by a regard for ______.

A

beauty and utility

B

uniformity

C

sanitation and public health

C is the correct answer

Answer 2

Answer:

• The orientation of streets and buildings, according to the cardinal directions east-west, and north-south was the distinguishing factor of the Indus-Saraswati cities.
• Harappan city sites, including Mohenjo Daro, Harappa, Kalibangan, and Surkotada were having large gateways at various entry points of the city. These gateways are seen even in the inner fortification areas also.
• At Dholavira, a fallen signboard was found close to the main gateway. It is a large inscription having ten symbols each measuring approximately 37 cm high and 25 to 27 cm wide proclaimed some name or title.

Materials Used in Buildings

• Most settlements were situated in the alluvial plains where the most common building materials were mud-bricks and kiln-fired-bricks, wood and reeds.
• In the foothills and on the Islands of Kutch and in Saurashtra, dressed stone replaced bricks (due to an abundance of stone).
• The sizes of bricks have been found identical proportions 1:2:4, that the width is double the thickness and the length four times, the thickness.
• Doors and windows were made up of wood and mats.
• Floors of houses were generally hard-packed earth that was often plastered.
• Drains and bathing areas were made with baked bricks or stone.
• Roofs were probably made of wooden beams covered with reeds and packed clay.

Types of Buildings

Excavations have uncovered many types of houses and public buildings at both large and small settlements.

The architecture may be grouped into three categories with some variations as −

Private houses,

• Large houses surrounded by smaller units, and
• Large public structures.
• Doorways and windows rarely opened out into the main street, but faced side lanes.
• The view into the house was blocked by a wall or a room around the front door. This was done to protect the activities in the central courtyard from the view of passers-by.
• The doors were made with wooden frames and a brick socket set in the threshold served as door pivot.
• Some of the doors seem to have been painted and possibly carved with simple ornamentation
• The windows were small at first and second stories.
• The adjacent houses were separated by a narrow space of "no man's land".

Public Buildings

Some large and distinct structures have been found in several cities designed especially for the public purpose