Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?
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Answer: A. Dholavira in Kutch, Gujarat, is famous for its water system. It had dams, channels and a series of large reservoirs to store rainwater in a dry region. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.
Watch for: Lothal's dockyard is also water-related; but the reservoir and dam series is Dholavira's mark.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Wrong because Kalibangan is known for ploughed fields and fire altars.
- C. Wrong because Rakhigarhi is known as a large Harappan site, not for water reservoirs.
- D. Wrong because Ropar is not known for a reservoir system.
Source to check: NCERT Class 12, Themes in Indian History Part I, Chapter 1 Bricks, Beads and Bones; UNESCO World Heritage listing of Dholavira (2021)
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.