Dholavira (Gujarati: ધોળાવીરા) is an archaeological site at Khadirbet in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District, in the state of Gujarat in western India, which has taken its name from a modern-day village 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) south of it.

Also known locally as Kotada timba, the site contains ruins of a city of the ancient Indus Valley civilization.

The 47 ha (120 acres) quadrangular city lay between two seasonal streams, the Mansar in the north and Manhar in the south.

[7] The site was initially discovered by a resident of Dholavira village, Shambhudan Gadhvi, in early 1960s, who made efforts to bring government attention to the location.

[3] The excavation brought to light urban planning and architecture, and unearthed large numbers of antiquities such as animal bones, gold, silver, terracotta ornaments, pottery and bronze vessels.

Archaeologists believe that Dholavira was an important centre of trade between settlements in south Gujarat, Sindh and Punjab and Western Asia.

Estimated to be older than the port-city of Lothal,[17] the city of Dholavira has a rectangular shape and organization, and is spread over 22 ha (54 acres).

[18] The acropolis and the middle town had been furnished with their own defence-work, gateways, built-up areas, street system, wells, and large open spaces.

Bisht, who retired as the Joint Director-General of the ASI, said, "The kind of efficient system of Harappans of Dholavira, developed for conservation, harvesting and storage of water speaks eloquently about their advanced hydraulic engineering, given the state of technology in the third millennium BCE.

"[3] One of the unique features[22] of Dholavira is the sophisticated water conservation system[23] of channels and reservoirs, the earliest found anywhere in the world,[24] built completely of stone.

[23] There is also a large well with a stone-cut trough connecting it to a drain meant for conducting water to a storage tank.

[29] Some of the seals found at Dholavira, belonging to Stage III, contained animal only figures, without any type of script.

[23] A soft sandstone sculpture of a male with phallus erectus but head and feet below ankle truncated was found in the passageway of the eastern gate.

[23] Many funerary structures have been found (although all but one were devoid of skeletons),[23] as well as pottery pieces, terra cotta seals, bangles, rings, beads, and intaglio engravings.

A giant bronze hammer, a big chisel, a bronze hand-held mirror, a gold wire, gold ear stud, gold globules with holes, copper celts and bangles, shell bangles, phallus-like symbols of stone, square seals with Indus inscription and signs, a circular seal, humped animals, pottery with painted motifs, goblets, dish-on-stand, perforated jars, Terracotta tumblers in good shape, architectural members made of ballast stones, grinding stones, mortars, etc., were also found at this site.

Some inscriptions are also found on copper tablets, bronze implements, and small objects made of terracotta, stone and faience.

The Harappans had arranged and set pieces of the mineral gypsum to form ten large symbols or letters on a big wooden board.