JULY 16, 2025

7 lost Indian cities discovered by archaeologists

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India's past isn't just preserved in books. Some cities were wiped from memory and rediscovered through ruins, legends and underwater excavations. Here are some of them!

Dwarka's remains were found 100 feet underwater, with stone walls and streets resembling Krishna’s ancient city.

Dwarka: Submerged land of Krishna

Discovered in Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch, Dholavira shows precise street grids, water reservoirs and signage from 4,500 years ago.

Dholavira: India's first planned city

Excavated in Gujarat, Lothal had a sophisticated dockyard and warehouse system, proving India’s maritime trade began in 2400 BC.

Lothal: World’s earliest known dockyard

Found in Rajasthan, Kalibangan had the world’s oldest ploughed field and fire altars, hinting at early rituals and agriculture.

Kalibangan: World's oldest farming site

Rakhigarhi, in Haryana, is the biggest Indus Valley site discovered in India. DNA tests here reveal one of the earliest urban populations.

Rakhigarhi: India’s largest Harappan city

Kerala’s Muziris vanished in a flood but was rediscovered near Pattanam. It once exported spices, glass and gems to Roman traders.

Muziris: Lost port that linked Rome to India

Crushed in 1565, Vijayanagar’s grand temples and market ruins were unearthed in Hampi. The city was once richer than Lisbon or Rome.

Vijayanagar: Empire buried in Hampi

8 Indian temples that defy laws of physics

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