15-Mar-2021: Rakhigarhi is being developed as one of the five identified iconic Archaeological sites
The ancient site of Rakhi-Khas and Rakhi-Shahpur are collectively known as Rakhigarhi, located on the right bank of now dried up Palaeo-channel of Drishadvati. Seven (07) mounds are located here. The site has yielded various stages of Harappan culture and is by far one of the largest Harappan sites in India. The site shows the sequential development of the Indus culture in the now dried up Saraswathi basin.
For development of the sites and its environs, repairing of boundary wall, pathways, public amenities, solar lights, benches are being provided. Excavation is also proposed at the site to showcase the archaeological remains in a holistic manner. In the union budget of 2020 it was announced that Five iconic archaeological sites located across five states will be developed. One of which is Rakhigarhi located in Hissar district, Haryana.
The funds will be met out within ASI Budget allocations.
The expenditure for the current financial year 2020-2021 (Up to 08/03/2021) is Rs. 11,51,763.00/-
27-Feb-2020: Encroachment removal at the Rakhigarhi heritage site
The Union Budget proposes the development of five archaeological sites of Rakhigarhi in Haryana, Hastinapur in Uttar Pradesh, Shivsagar in Assam, Dholavira in Gujarat and Adichanallur in Tamil Nadu into iconic sites.
Based on the above proposal, work has already been initiated to develop the Harappan site at Haryana’s Rakhigarhi village as an iconic site and set up a national museum. This will help develop the site as a tourist hub.
The site is currently under Archaeological Survey of India’s protection and the ASI has started planning the project. The ASI has been able to get under its control just 83.5 acres of the 350-hectare site that spans 11 mounds, after first taking over the site in 1996, due to encroachments and pending court cases.
As part of encroachment removal at the Rakhigarhi heritage site, 152 households are being shifted to flats. The proposal of the government has caused both excitement and concern among the residents of the two villages in Haryana’s Hisar district — Rakhi Khas and Rakhi Shahpur — known as Rakhigarhi.
Villagers fear the loss of land, as Centre moves to turn the Harappan site into a tourist hub. The concerns are mainly regarding the issues of rehabilitation of homes.
Rakhigarhi is the site of a pre-Indus Valley Civilization settlement going back to about 6500 BCE. Later, it was also part of the mature Indus Valley Civilization, dating to 2600-1900 BCE. Interestingly, the site indicates both early and mature Harappan phases.
The site is located in the Saraswathi river plain, close to the seasonal Ghaggar river.
Rakhigarhi encompasses a set of seven mounds, and there are many more settlement mounds in the immediate vicinity. Not all of them were occupied at the same time. In January 2014, the discovery of additional mounds resulted in it becoming the largest Indus Valley Civilization site, overtaking Mohenjo-Daro.
The size and uniqueness of Rakhigarhi have drawn much attention of archaeologists all over the world. It indicates the spread of the Indus Valley Civilization east across North India. Notably, only about 5% of the Rakhigarhi site has been excavated so far by the ASI and Deccan College, Pune. Among the major findings from the site were a 4,600-year-old female skeleton, fortification and bricks.