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The International Writers Magazine:Pakistan Tourism
Moenjodaro - A Tourists delight
• Azfar A Khan
If you are a lover of archaeology and fond of visiting archaeological sites, then Moenjodaro is the place you should go to.
It's one of the most spectacular and developed urban civilizations of the world that flourished in the second millennium B.C. 5000 years old, it is located in Pakistan on the west bank of River Indus.
The meaning of Moenjodaro is 'Mound of the Dead'. The Indus River civilization flourished for about 800 years during the third and second millennium BC before it vanished from the map of the world. The ruins indicate that Moenjodaro used to be an organized and planned city with master architecture of urban settlement.
Some features of this civilization have come out with peculiar revelations, the inhabitants of this area were highly artistic and innovative. Proficient in the art of town planning, They followed architectural techniques while constructing their buildings so as to counter the effects of heat.
Moenjodaro had intersecting, parallel, straight streets, it also had halls, galleries and a large bathing pool probably used for religious or ceremonial purposes. It had covered drainage system and soaked pits with disposal bins. It also had a decision making area, which seems a nice idea. The buildings were generally made of mud and baked bricks.
Evidence of the existence of a public treasury has been found which indicates that in those days, taxes were being collected. Besides discovering weights and measures, the excavators have also found earrings, necklaces, beads and pearls in that area.
Once you roam around the area surrounding Moenjodaro, you would be startled to see the similarity between various objects used at Moenjodaro 5000 years back and the existing settlements in the area. The bullock carts, boats, drinking jars, toys used even today in the adjoining areas, bear strong resemblance to those used by the ancient citizens of Moenjodaro.
Other objects found in Moenjodaro include models of birds, a small dancing girl made of bronze and a priest king. In Moenjodaro museum, relics on view include engraved seals, ornaments, utensils, pottery, weapons and toys. By studying the coins and potteries discovered in the area, you can get an idea about the trade and cultural links that existed at that time between Moenjodaro and Egypt and other civilizations in that era. Evidence also exists that, in those days, dams were built for storing river water and cultivation was carried out manually with the help of bullock ploughs - a system that still exists in Pakistan.However, once you are at Moenjodaro, you shouldn't lose this opportunity to visit some other archaeological sites in Pakistan which rich in archaeological heritage. These sites would be a source of immense delight for the tourists.
In the end, after seeing all these magnificent sites in Pakistan, you may wish to visit a hill resort in Pakistan, called Muree. It's 65 KM from the capital of the country, Islamabad, which, though is not an archaeological site, is full of captivating scenic beauty.Pakistan is a centre of cultural heritage although I am biased, it is well worth a visit.
© Azfar A Khan November 2005
Azfar44@hotmail.com© Hackwriters 1999-2005
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