Dholavira and the Sensory Experience of Indus Urbanism: A Spatial Analysis

Swati Kumari

Urban planning in the Indus Valley Civilization has traditionally been interpreted through architectural features such as grid-based street systems, standardized construction materials, and advanced hydraulic infrastructure. Excavations at the site of Dholavira in western India have revealed a highly organized urban layout characterized by a tripartite division of citadel, middle town, and lower town, monumental gateways, and large open public spaces. While these discoveries have significantly improved our understanding of Harappan urban planning and engineering, the experiential dimensions of urban space remain comparatively understudied. This paper examines how the architectural configuration of Dholavira may have shaped spatial experience and patterns of movement within the city. It aims to explore how urban layout structured accessibility, visibility, and interaction across the settlement. Using published excavation plans and architectural data, the study applies spatial analysis to investigate patterns of accessibility, movement, and interaction across different urban sectors. Particular attention is given to the large open ceremonial ground situated between the citadel and middle town, one of the most distinctive features of the settlement. The analysis explores how the scale and placement of this space may have facilitated communal gatherings and structured interaction between different parts of the city. Rather than proposing deliberate sensory planning, the study considers how the built environment may have produced varied spatial experiences within the urban landscape. By integrating architectural analysis with perspectives from sensory archaeology, the paper offers a new approach to understanding everyday urban life in Indus settlements.