In which State of India is the Harappan Civilization site Mandi situated ?
- (a)Gujarat
- (b)Haryana
- (c)Rajasthan
- (d)Uttar Pradesh
Correct — D, Uttar Pradesh. Mandi is a Harappan (Late Harappan) site in Muzaffarnagar district of western Uttar Pradesh. It became well known when a large hoard of gold and silver ornaments (jewellery) of the Harappan period was discovered there in 2000. So the Harappan site 'Mandi' lies in Uttar Pradesh.
- (a)Gujarat — Gujarat has major Harappan sites such as Lothal (dockyard), Dholavira and Surkotada — but not Mandi.
- (b)Haryana — Haryana has Harappan sites like Rakhigarhi (one of the largest), Banawali and Mitathal — Mandi is not among them.
- (c)Rajasthan — Rajasthan has the Harappan site Kalibangan (ploughed field, fire altars) on the Ghaggar — but Mandi is not in Rajasthan.
The Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilization extended far beyond the Indus into the Ghaggar-Hakra basin and the upper Ganga-Yamuna doab. Its sites therefore lie across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh. Mandi (Muzaffarnagar) and Alamgirpur (Meerut/Hapur region) are among the eastern, Late-Harappan sites located in Uttar Pradesh.
The trap is that the 'famous' Harappan sites cluster in Gujarat/Rajasthan/Haryana; but this question's specific site — Mandi, noted for its 2000 gold-and-silver jewellery hoard — is in Uttar Pradesh. Associate Mandi (and Alamgirpur) with UP.
- Mandi = Harappan / Late-Harappan site in Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh
- Famous for a large hoard of Harappan-era gold and silver ornaments discovered there in 2000
- Alamgirpur (Meerut/Hapur region) is another Harappan site in UP, marking the civilization's eastern extent
- Contrast: Lothal / Dholavira (Gujarat), Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Rakhigarhi / Banawali (Haryana)
Mandi, noted for its Harappan gold-and-silver hoard, lies in Uttar Pradesh.
- Assuming every Harappan site lies in Gujarat / Haryana / Rajasthan
- Confusing the Harappan site Mandi (UP) with Mandi town in Himachal Pradesh
As a site↔State match or a 'which State has X site' item; UPSC also asks 'which one is / is not a Harappan site'.
Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?
- (a) Chanhudaro
- (b) Kot Diji
- (c) Sohgaura
- (d) Desalpur
Answer(c) Sohgaura
Same concept — recognising Harappan sites; Sohgaura (Gorakhpur, UP) is NOT Harappan (it is known for a Mauryan copper-plate inscription), whereas Chanhudaro, Kot Diji and Desalpur are Harappan.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Alamgirpur, an eastern Harappan site, is located in which State?
- (a)Punjab
- (b)Uttar Pradesh
- (c)Haryana
- (d)Rajasthan
Answer(b) Uttar Pradesh — Alamgirpur marks the eastern extent of the Harappan civilization.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Harappan site Kalibangan, known for ploughed fields and fire altars, is in which State?
- (a)Gujarat
- (b)Rajasthan
- (c)Haryana
- (d)Punjab
Answer(b) Rajasthan — Kalibangan lies on the (dried) Ghaggar river.