Rakhi Garhi Archeological Mound
Hisar district
RAKHIGARHI is about to rewrite the 5000 year old history of our civilization.
Recent excavations at Rakhi Garhi in Hissar district of Haryana may push the
history of the civilization back by over a thousand years. It could change the
commonly held view about the Indus Valley civilization, as Rakhigarhi is situated
on the bank of the now dry, Saraswati river. Archaeologists and historians are
excited about the findings from Rakhigarhi, the largest Indus Valley site after
Mohenjodaro. Senior archaeologists consider this to be no ordinary Harappan site
and say it is the most important of all the archaeological sites of India. The
unearthed clues may yield answers to questions that have remained unanswered
so far. Rakhigarhi findings have already started showing new civilization contours.
The area and dimensions of the site are far wider than assessed by archaeologist
Raymond and Bridget Allchin and J M Kenyer. It is 224 hectares, the largest in the
country. In size, dimensions strategic location and unique significance of the
settlement, Rakhi Garhi matches Harappa and Mohenjodaro at every level. Three
layers of Early, Mature and Late phases of Indus Valley civilization have been
found at Rakhi Garhi. What has so far been found uncannily indicates that Rakhi
Garhi settlement witnessed all the three phases.
The site has trick deposits of Hakra Ware (typical of settlements dating back
before the early phases of Indus Valley). Early and Mature Harappan artifacts. The
solid presence of the Hakra Ware culture raises the important question: "Did the
Indus civilization come later than it is recorded?" The Hakra and the early phases
are separated by more than 500-600 years and the Hakra people are considered to
be the earliest Indus inhabitants. Although the carbon-14 dating results are
awaited, based on the thick layers of Hakra Ware at Rakhi Garhi, it is said that the
site may date back to about 2500 BC to 3000 BC. This pushes the Indus Valley
civilization history by a thousand years or more.
AGROHA DHAM – THE ANCESTRAL LAND
LOCATION: AGROHA is located some 20km North-West of the Hissar city in Haryana.
This is some 190 km from Delhi (India), when approached via Rohtak-Hissar.
This was some 5000 years back the prosperous and illustrous kingdom of Maharaja Agrasen.
The remains of ancient AGROHA city are some 1-1.5 km away from the present AGROHA
village. The excavation of the ancient AGROHA city started in the year 1888-89, under
C.T.Rogers. It was at that time that people came to know about this great kingdom.
The redevelopment process at Agroha after the excavation was slow. Sh. Bholaram Dalmia of Bhiwani Distt.
and Sh. Sanwalram built a Gau Shala in 1914 at Agroha. Then in 1939 Sh. Ramji Das Bojoria from Calcutta
had Shiv Mandir and a rest house built. All these activities were more at individualistic level.
It was only in 1976 that a need for a concerted group effort was felt at the convention of All India Aggarwal
Representatives. This realisation led to the establishment of AGROHA VIKAS TRUST in 1976, under Sh.Shri
Krishna Modi and Sh Rameshwar Das Gupta.Their efforts were supplemented by Late Master Laxmi Narain
Gupta who donated 27 acres of land to Agroha Vikas Trust.The development work at Agroha was carried on
under the able supervision of Late Sh Tilak Raj Aggarwal.
Since then all the development process at AGROHA is planned and implemented by AGROHA VIKAS
TRUST.The developments at Agoha received a major boost from 1985 when Sh. Subhash Goel joined in as the
President of Agroha Vikas Trust.He replanned Agroha Dham with special emphasis on the Temple Complex
and the Shakti Sarovar. Functionally Agroha Dham has been planned to represent the historical tenets of
India- As a centre of learning, philosphy and spirituality, Vridh Ashram (Old Age Home), Health Centre,
Research Centre.
The total area under the trust for the development of
Agroha Dham is 27 acres. The developments have taken
place in the form of a Temple complex dedicated to
goddess Mahalaxmi and Saraswati , this also hosts the
memorial temple of Maharaj Agrasen. The beauty of the
place is exemplified by the Shakti Sarovar and well
maintained lawns.
Opposite the Trust compound is the Agrasen Medical
College and Research Centre.The medical college is one
of the most prestigious education centre for medical studies.It is gearing up to become one of the biggest
medical research centre under the supervision of Sh. O. P. Jindal. Less than a Kilometre away from the trust
compound is the ancient Temple of Sheela Mata which has become a major tourist attraction.
Some more developments are under way at Agroha viz: Maharaj Agrasen Agroha House Building Coop
Society, Hissa: which is spread over an area of 25 acres covering 300 plots .Besides this there is a Grain
Market under development. This is a controlled area to be developed in a planned manner.