Delhi may soon become a city that was. If people desert a place nothing remains. It becomes history forever! You think it’s not possible? Think again. The unbearable pollution seen in the past few days is making the residents question, is it worth living here? Not just the pollution but the sheer number of people, the fight for survival, the difficult conditions for everyday life, distances, commute, parking, expenses makes it almost impossible for an average parson to be able to feel good about living here. A recent survey said about 40% of people would like to move out of Delhi. We all keep thinking that Delhi is too big, too important and too old to get deserted but you could be wrong. In fact, totally wrong! Many mighty and seemingly infallible cities were abandoned for good largely due to environmental, climate and human factors. Here are 7 great cities of India which lay deserted and abandoned now. Who would have thought this?
- Dholavira
Dholavira one of most amazing cities of Haraapan is known locally as Kotada (which means large fort). It sprawls over 100 hectares of semi-arid land at the north-west corner of the island of Khadir, one of the islands in the Great Rann of Kutch that remain above the flood-plains in months when the rest of the desert is submerged by the monsoon. Dholavira is one of the two largest Harappan sites in India, and 5th largest in the subcontinent.
The site was unearthed by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1967, but has been systematically excavated only since 1990. Artefacts include terracotta pottery, beads, gold and copper ornaments, seals, fish hooks, animal figurines, tools, urns, and some imported vessels that indicate trade links with lands as far away as Mesopotamia.
Dholavira has one of the world’s earliest water conservation systems ever excavated. Satellite pictures show a reservoir underground, an expertly constructed rainwater harvesting system extending from the walls of the city, without which the settlement would not have thrived in the sparse rainfall of the desert.
However the city started getting deserted because of climate change and a stage came when it lay completed deserted and then gor lost for long years.
2. Lothal
Another great city of the Indus Valley Civilisation is Lothal, one of the major trade centres, which was into exporting beads, gems and other expensive materials. Formed on the banks of Saraswati river and discovered in 1954.
After the core of the Indus civilisation had decayed in Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, Lothal seems not only to have survived but to have thrived for many years. Unfortunately, the tropical storms and floods constantly caused immense destruction, which made living difficult in the city and ultimately caused its end
3. Fatehpur Sikri
This magnificent fortified ancient city was the short-lived capital of the Mughal empire between 1572 and 1585, during the reign of Emperor Akbar. The city includes a stunning mosque, still in use today, and three palaces.
The city was an Indo-Islamic masterpiece, but suffered massive water shortages and so was abandoned shortly after Akbar’s death. No Water no Life!
4.Ross Island
Ross Island was the Administrative Headquarters for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The island has remnants of an opulent past in the ruins of the church, swimming pool and the chief commissioner’s residence with its huge gardens and grand ballrooms. However, a massive earthquake rocked it in 1941 because of which the island became unliveable.
5.Kuldhara:
For over 500 years, the village of Kuldhara was populated by about 1,500 residents. One night, they all disappeared. They didn’t die or get abducted – they just left. The reason for their sudden evacuation is lost in time. Some say they fled the taxation of an oppressive ruler, while others weave a tale of young lovers and the girl’s angry father who was a big shot in the village and some think that a strange geographical phenomenon could be behind the exodus. Pollution or toxicity of some kind? Coz it never got inhabited again!
6.Hampi
Hampi, the capital of Vijayanagar Kingdom was the last major Hindu kingdom. During the last battle at Talikota many Sultanates came together against the Vijayanagar empire and the 70 year old king, whose head was chopped off in the battle field. When the news of the defeat spread around thieves arrived at the empire capital Hampi to loot which went on for months. Eventually the idols were destroyed and the entire city was burnt down. Fires can really finish any kind of city.
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