I  had the privilege to visit Rakhi Garhi, a prehistoric site in Haryana – a north Indian state.

Rakhi Garhi is contemporary of Indus Valley civilization and is approximately 5000 years old. I met Mr Wazir Chand, who explained the details of the site to me. I was lucky that a lot of village elders and also kids helped us explore the place. It was an amazing experience being in the midst of a 5000 years old civilization, discovering the whole place. Visualising the way the Rakhi Garhi people lived an advanced lifestyle , by those standards,was truly beyond imagination and an humbling experience.

 Mr Wazir Chand explaining details of a few terracota pieces we found at the Site

I saw the personal collection of Mr Chand. It was an impressive display of animal figures, jewellery, utensils, toys etc.

In front of Mr Chand’s collection

 A toy with moving head – Awesome !

Few things were striking about this civilization :

a)    It shows evidence of being a fairly advanced civilization. I saw remains of a three feet wall which surrounded the city and probably guards walked on it. I also saw signs of an advanced settlement with sections for different kinds of people.

A 5000 year old baked clay brick from the defense wall of Rakhi Garhi city 

b)    It shows evidence of early , middle and mature stages of development at the same site

c)    The people had an amazing sense of design. I saw innumerable pieces of jewellery e.g. beads made of baked clay shells, semi precious stones and bones , bangles , gold jewellery , pots , toys, daily use utensils. Rakhi Garhi people were experts in making cotton fabric 5000 years or more back, and the tradition continues till date.

 Seals from Rakhi Garhi

 Beads and other jewellery pieces made of bones and other semi precious stones.They are polished and some had designs on them too.

 Baked Clay pieces of jewellery

Metal Pieces used mostly for hunting

Evidence ofCotton Clothes being used 5000 years back – impressions on mud – left is grass and right is cotton cloth marks

My Trip would not have been possible without these lovely kids and wonderful village elders . Thank You !

It was also interesting to see both past and present co existing at Rakhi Garhi , however it was sad to see cow dung cakes being stored on the site !

Rakhi Garhi – Cow Dung Cakes Stored on the 5000 year old site

All original specimens © Mr Chand

All Photo’s © sonalika agarwal collection